From the heart of East Texas to the bright lights of CMA Theater, Gary Patrick is proving talent knows no bounds. For more than three decades, he’s been quietly carving a name for himself as one of the most respected independent artists in East Texas. “A lot of people will ask ‘when was it that you chose to do music?’” Patrick said.
“Well, music chose me.” The youngest of four siblings, Patrick grew up in a household full of music. “There was a pivotal moment when I heard the song 'Play Me' by Neil Diamond,” he said.
“I was a kid and it just stuck with me.” After graduating high school in 1989, Patrick moved to Southern California where he was pursuing a career in aeronautical engineering, which was learning how to maintain, build, and fly jet aircraft. “I was a great student but my heart wasn’t really in it,” he said.
Thanks to the support of his parents, Patrick was able to focus on his craft and lay the groundwork for a successful independent career. “After I got the green light from them, I started playing music for a living..
. and that was something that never stopped,” he said. However, the road to success wasn’t easy, especially as an artist not tied to major record labels.
“When you're assigned a record label, normally under their umbrella, they would have a promotional team that knows how to promote your music to the world,” Patrick said. “They would have a financial side, a bank loan that they would give you and all they ask o.