I live life on my own terms: Gary Lawyer

It’s interesting to talk to Gary Lawyer. Not because he is one Indian who is all about western music only but more because in a world completely dictated by materialism and fame, he comes across as someone for whom the two things that define his kind of career matter least. He has an old world charm about him much like the music he strums.

All set to take Delhi back to the swinging ‘60s with a concert called “Sinatra & Swing” this Sunday, Gary shall be performing at Siri Fort after years, he says. And he surely is looking forward to his live concert here after having garnered a full house at the NCPA Mumbai a while ago. So what makes the ‘60s so popular? “Oh they’re all timeless”, he almost croons, “and it’s not just the 60s; it’s the 50s and 70s and the 80s as well. The singing sensations of the time are all legends,” he says of Frank Sinatra who he calls his guru and the likes of Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr. “International hits have their own appeal,” he goes on, “and they are the real superstars who made an impact on the world in a way that changed attitudes and styles. Music transcends barriers and each of these icons has been idolised world over. And not just because of their music. Elvis changed the way we dressed. The Beatles also brought about a fashion revolution.”

On where does India stand today as far as western music goes, Gary reflects, “We should be getting more western bands here. A lot of people come for concerts but there are few western musicians who perform here. India is a huge untapped market. It’s not at the forefront also because of lack of media support. The way things are right now, the western music scene in India is not blossoming. Definitely, there are more musicians today and there is scope for more but professionally there is very little one can do in India,” Gary sounds a bit despondent. Although he does acknowledge that there are a lot of parents who are now pushing their children to take up music and are proud when he or she plays a certain instrument but western music is not given much importance, he states. “Parents do have a positive approach now and coming from a conservative Parsi family I can say that there is a sea change in attitude where music is not just to be taken as a hobby but can be thought of as something that can be pursued life long. But a lot still needs to be done.”

Gary Lawyer   | Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Lack of platform

“Western music has a huge audience in India but there is no platform – no corporate support, few good places to play and no money to start out,” Gary goes on to speak of the western music scene in the country, “And Bollywood rules India as much as politics and cricket does.” That brings us to him never becoming a part of the industry. “I have no background in Bollywood music. It’s not my cup of tea. I speak Hindi and Gujarati fluently and diction has never been a problem but Bollywood is just not me. I don’t fit there anywhere. I don’t do what I’m not comfortable with. I live life on my own terms”, he says.

The jazz musician, who in the earlier part of his career sung jingles for commercials, has been nominated by the Government of India to perform at the Festival of Russia. Gary has opened performances for international artists Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, supported the extremely successful Anti-Smoking ad campaign song that had him croon “with a cigarette in my hand I felt like a man”, has received the Jack Daniel’s ‘Lifetime Achievement’, has a song dedicated to ‘Save the Tiger’ campaign and has several albums to his credit. His album, The Other Side of Dawn, catapulted him to fame in America.

And yet there is more to the man who studied political science and economics in college. “It was more to please my parents than anything else,” he shrugs. With his childhood love for kites, and in youth for bikes, the latter has gone on to become an affair for a lifetime. “I love motorcycles, long bike rides and natural surroundings,” Gary sounds excited at the mere mention of his other loves. “Music is my life but I also indulge in lot of other interests. I love swimming, I watch a lot of television though mostly informative programmes, sports and news. My friends and family matter a lot and I love to spend time with them”.

Gary’s story will make for an interesting autobiography, one suggests. “I’ve been told by several people to write my life story and I am sure it would make an interesting read since very little is known about the emergence of western music scene in the country – about me being confused in school, being a good sports person and all. But I am an extremely private person; very comfortable with who I am. It would be incredible to write a book on myself but I am embarrassed at the kind of attention it would attract. My position as a western musician is very unique,” says Gary who has penned every single lyric for each of his songs until now including his latest release ‘Heaven’s Child’ where as he gushes, “everything on that album is mine”.

It’s ironical that the man who is in a public profession “is shy of publicity” and quips, “I can never hire a manager because I can never fire one.”. “I am not a musician who likes to perform in a new city every night. I like the way I live my life”.

And what would his preference be if he were to choose something from the Indian music genre? “All Indian classical musicians are great,” Gary sums up even as he names Hari Prasad Chaurasia as one of his favourites.