Gary Hardy started taking trumpet lessons at the age of 12 in Norfolk, Virginia. Soon, playing the trumpet became the only thing he wanted to do.  He played his first solo in 6th grade and always played 1st chair in elementary, middle and high school. While at Norview High School, he was a member of the All City, All Regional and All State bands and was a featured soloist at Norview's Spring Concert playing Sammy Nestico's Portrait of a Trumpet.

After high school, Gary attended Old Dominion University as a music major and played with several rhythm and blues bands. "One day in May I was playing a fraternity softball game at ODU, and Tommy Pittman came up to me an asked if I wanted to play with the Rhondels.  I was so shocked that all I could say was 'are you kidding me'!   That night in 1968, I was playing at the Peppermint with the Rhondels, never dreaming this would be the start of a 38 year relationship.  One night we were playing and it was late and the crowd kept asking us to play May I by Maurice Williams.  William started playing it as a polka, making fun of the song, but the crowd loved it. The next day at rehearsal, someone wrote the horn parts.  To this day, no one can agree on who wrote the arrangement.  I think it was Rollie, Tommy thinks it was he and Rollie and William thought it was me.   Anyway, that was the start of the Rhondels' sound.  We went on to have 2 other hits; I've Been Hurt and What kind of Fool.   I did write the horn parts for these hits!   For the next 10 years I played with the Rhondels off and on, playing for a while and going back to school for a while until 1978, when I became the musical director for BJ Thomas" (Hooked on a Feeling, Raindrops Keep falling on my Head).

After spending 3 years traveling around the world Gary decided to get off the road and spend time with his family. "I actually quit playing for 20 years and only started again when we were inducted into the Legends Hall of Fame.  That was a great night; I hadn't seen some of those guys for 30 years".  Gary has been married to his wife, Mary, for 36 years. They have 4 children and 2 grandsons and have recently moved back to Virginia Beach, after living in Atlanta for 25 years. Besides playing for the Original Rhondels, Gary works as a National Sales Manager for a theatrical lighting and controls manufacturer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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