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Pianist--Composer--Arranger-
Vocalist--Entertainer
Musicologist
Gary Lawrence has been a professional pianist and arranger for over forty years. A graduate of Brooklyn College, Lawrence is a veteran of the famous Catskills "Borscht Belt," having worked at many resorts, including Brown's Hotel and Grossingers. After many years of playing private parties in the New York area, he formed a Roaring 20s Big Band, The Sizzling Syncopators, which has appeared on national TV and has recorded for several labels, including CBS Masterworks.
Since relocating to Florida in 1978, Lawrence has been the leader of two radio orchestras -- The WFTL Orchestra and The WLQY "Music of Your Life" Orchestra -- and has ran his own successful booking agency, Tops in Music and Entertainment.
As a pianist/conductor, Lawrence has performed with such well-known performers as Allan Jones, Mel Torme, Cab Calloway, Steve Allen, Claire Barry, Mickey Katz, Don Cornell, Tiny Tim, Howard Keel and Shirley Bassey. He has also toured with the internationally renowned Klezmer ensemble, The Epstein Brothers Orchestra, and appears in their award-winning film, "A Tickle in the Heart." He was also the musical director for the Manhattan Dinner Theater`s production of “Picon Pie,” the musical biography of Yiddish Theatre great, Molly Picon and "The Kid from Brooklyn," a bio of Danny Kaye. Currently, Gary Lawrence and Jan Kroupa are performing throughout Florida with The Songs of the Sunshine State, a musical salute to Florida. Lawrence is also traveling internationally with The Classic Jazz Quartet, a unique and informative presentation of jazz and pop songs, derived from classical masterworks. In addition, Lawrence performs a one man show featuring the music of the '20s -- Hello Central Give Me Doctor Jazz!
Gary Lawrence just completed a 7-month engagement as musical director on the Holland America Statendam.
He is currently working on a new Internet radio show--blog "Chopin, Tchaikovsky … And All That Jazz!”
