The Book "Life is a Song" is now available at 

  JimKincer.com 

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      Gary Edwards lived a life of music, 

    lifted by talent, and

    defined by heart.

Told through stories from family, friends, and associates, supported by interviews, memories, and rare photographs, this book paints a vivid portrait of a gifted entertainer whose music touched millions and whose kindness, humor, and spirit touched even more. 

From his beginnings in Corbin, Kentucky, to the bright marquees of Las Vegas and stages across the world, Gary’s journey reads like the soundtrack of an unforgettable era. 

Whether with The Shades, The Maroons, The Embers, SAGE, and later as a solo headliner, he entertained thousands in clubs, showrooms, resorts, on cruise ships, and in packed theaters. 

Along the way, he shared the stage with legends, survived the grind of the road, reinvented himself more than once, and earned the admiration of musicians and fans alike. 

This book, Life Is a Song, goes far beyond the spotlight. It reveals the man behind the music, the laughter, the grind, the heartbreak, the determination, the friendships that lasted decades, and the quiet moments that shaped him. 

Through marriage, reinventions, losses, triumphs, and a lifetime of melodies, Gary never stopped chasing the sound that lived in his heart. 

If you knew Gary Edwards, this book will feel like you are coming home. If you didn’t, you’re about to meet someone you’ll never forget. His story was music. His life was a song.

     JimKincer.com

Gary Edwards was a singer, an entertainer, a musician and all-around nice guy.

Long before his name appeared on marquees, before the recording studios, Las Vegas showrooms, cruise ships, and performances around the world, Gary was simply a boy from Corbin, Kentucky, who loved to sing.

Music was almost inevitable for Gary.

He was born into a musical family. His mother, father, and sister were all accomplished musicians, and music was part of everyday life in the Edwards household. Gary did not have to go looking for it. It was already there, surrounding him from the beginning.

It did not take long for people to realize that the boy had something special.

Gary began singing before audiences while he was still in elementary school. At only ten years old, he recorded his first song, an extraordinary beginning for a child growing up in a small Kentucky town.

By fourteen, Gary was singing with his father’s orchestra on WCTT radio in Corbin.

Imagine that for a moment.

At an age when most boys were thinking about school, ball games, and what they might do on Saturday afternoon, Gary Edwards was standing before a microphone and singing for a radio audience.

It was the beginning of a relationship with music that would last for the rest of his life.

As the years passed, the audiences became larger and the stages carried him farther from home. Gary eventually recorded more than ninety songs and performed around the world. Along the way, he appeared with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including B.B. King, Neil Diamond, Engelbert Humperdinck, Wayne Newton, Gene Pitney, and many others.

But lists of famous names and impressive venues tell only part of Gary’s story.

Those who knew him remember something else.

They remember Gary.

The smile.

The personality.

The natural ability to entertain a room.

The way he could walk onto a stage and make an audience feel that something exciting was about to happen.

And they remember a genuinely nice man who happened to possess an extraordinary musical talent.

A performer’s career can be a strange thing. For years, the music is everywhere. There are rehearsals, recording sessions, musicians, bright lights, crowded rooms, applause, late nights, long trips and another performance waiting tomorrow.

Then, eventually, the stage grows quiet.

But the music does not have to disappear.

That is why Gary Edwards Music was created.

Its purpose is simple: to preserve Gary’s music and the story of his life so that those who remember him can hear his songs again and those who never had the opportunity to see him perform can discover him for themselves.

I have the privilege of managing Gary Edwards Music, but I do not consider what I am doing to be simply maintaining a collection of old recordings.

Gary was my lifelong friend.

Everything presented through Gary Edwards Music comes from material Gary himself provided before he passed away. That matters to me. These are not stories gathered years later by people attempting to reconstruct his career from memory. They are recordings, photographs, information, and pieces of a life that Gary wanted preserved.

Perhaps that is why this project has become so personal.

When I hear one of Gary’s recordings, I do not simply hear a singer.

I remember the person.

I remember the years.

I remember places and people, conversations and laughter, and an era of entertainment that has largely disappeared.

Music has a remarkable ability to do that.

A song can take us somewhere in seconds.

The first few notes can return us to a nightclub we have not thought about in fifty years. They can remind us of the person sitting beside us, what we were wearing, where we were living, or who we were falling in love with.

Sometimes a song can even bring back someone we have lost.

Gary Edwards passed away on December 26, 2018.

His death ended a remarkable life, but it did not end his music.

The recordings remain.

The photographs remain.

The stories remain.

Most importantly, the memories remain in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, worked with him, danced to his music, or sat in an audience somewhere and watched Gary Edwards do what he loved to do.

That is what I hope Gary Edwards Music preserves.

Not simply the career of a singer, but the memory of a friend.

If you knew Gary, I hope hearing his music again brings back a place, a night, a face, or a memory you have not visited in a very long time.

If you are discovering Gary Edwards for the first time, I hope you will stay for a while and listen.

You just might understand why, all these years later, so many of us still believe his music is worth remembering.

The stage may be quiet now.

But Gary’s song plays on.

Welcome to Gary Edwards Music.

Listen to the songs. Enjoy the photographs. Discover the stories. And if you would like to learn more about Gary’s remarkable life and career, read Life Is a Song: The Life and Music of Gary Edwards by Jim Kincer, available through JimKincer.com and Amazon.

 

Mike and Louise Edwards

Mike and Louise Edwards

Gary at 2 years old

Gary (Lynn) Edwards  was born in the small town of Corbin, Kentucky on February 9, 1941. The Edwards family lived on Mitchell Street across from the Corbin Hospital. Gary's Mother was Margaret "Louise" Dooley (1919 - 1989) and his Father was Micha "Mike" Saufley Edwards (1902 – 1991).  Gary has one sister "Barbara Jean" who is 3 years younger! 

Gary passed away on December 26, 2018 after suffering health issues for several years.  See his obituary, click here  

1951 - Gary is circled 

As a young boy, Gary  attended all 12 years of school at Saint Camillus Academy in Corbin, Kentucky. He was a shy boy and lived a very average, normal life, interested in all of the things young boys have an interest in, but Gary always had a unique talent for music and the ability to really sing a song, even as a youngster. Gary, though very shy, would perform anytime he was given the opportunity. He did have voice lessons with Sister Gregoria at Saint Camillus Academy and he sang in the choir while in high school. When Gary was a young boy, his Father took him to luncheons at various clubs and restaurants such as the Kiwanis Club, the Moose Lodge, and The Steak House. In fact, Gary looked for an audience  "anywhere" and "everywhere", which would allow him to perform!  It is believed that these singing opportunities are where Gary developed a strong interest and powerful love for music and entertainment. We ask him what kind of songs he did at these venues, He responded: "I sang popular songs of that time. The first song I ever sang was "I Believe". I also liked Tony Bennett's "Rags to Riches", "Cold Cold Heart", Eddie Fisher's, "Oh My Papa" and my favorite singer, of course, Elvis. Songs like "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "It's Now or Never" or pretty much any Elvis song".  

Gary at 7 years old

I mentioned earlier about Gary being quiet and shy.  He remembers being so shy, that very early in life, he would cringe when his family had visitors at home because his Mother would always want him to sing. She was very proud of Gary and Barbara Jean!  However, Gary eventually overcame the shyness and began to appreciate the fame, applause, and recognition!  One factor that helped Gary overcome the shyness was working as a bellman at Cumberland Falls State Park during the summers while in college.  Every summer he met and talked with hundreds of people from all over the world.

First Record "I Believe" at "10 Years Old"

Gary Edwards, 1951

Gary was only 10 years old when he recorded his first song "I Believe" The 78rpm record was made in 1952 in the studios of WCTT Radio station in Corbin, KY.  Gary said; "That song was also the first song I ever sang in public and it was in Corbin at The Rotary Club".

In 1980 Gary added this recording to his "Life is a Song" CD.  Also when he was 10 years old, his father began taking him to the radio station (WCTT) each Saturday, to sing a couple of songs, with his dad's four-piece band, on "The Mike Edwards" radio show!  This was a very exciting experience for Gary, a young, shy, impressionable boy that loved music!  

Every time Gary was permitted to sing on his Dads show, the radio audience loved him so much, the station's phone lines became jammed with too many calls from listeners wanting to hear more!   The station simply couldn't keep up with all of the calls requesting more of the young Gary Edwards!

WCTT management knew a good thing and when Gary was 16 years old (and could drive), he was given his own radio show called "The Gary Edwards Show" (no money but super publicity). 

This was another great experience for Gary, it provided him with the opportunity to perform behind a "live" microphone in front of a live radio audience!  Not only did it improve his music, it taught him stage and microphone presence, which matured over the years and gave him the skill he needed to perform!  Gary became very comfortable in front thousands!  He also developed a large local following as a singer and young local entertainer. 

As you might expect, everyone and especially the girls loved Gary, in fact, Gary's public appearances and the radio show made Gary Edwards a big "local star" in and around Corbin. However, even though he had "local fame" he was still very shy and it was difficult for him to even talk to the girls. Gary learned to let his singing do the talking, and it worked! This may very well be why he often says "Life is a Song"  "Everything can be said in a song"! 

During high school, Gary formed his first backup band called "The Shades".  The Shades provided him back-up on the radio show, other local venues and continued performing with him in college.  During High School, Gary and The Shades performed at school functions such as homecomings, proms, and special events, private parties, and dances, on WCTT radio station, at the local skating rink, Cumberland Falls State Park, The Kiwanis Club, Moose Lodge and anywhere they could!

Mike Edwards and WCTT Radio Station

Mike Edwards in 1971

In the 1930's, long before Gary was born, his father, Mike, had his own orchestra, "The Mike Edwards Orchestra." Mr. Edwards also worked for the L & N railroad most of his life and in the early 1950's (when Gary was a very young boy), Mike had a Saturday morning radio show on WCTT radio station in Corbin, KY called the “Mike Edwards Show."Gary's father was a piano player and did "scat singing".  He also was the announcer/MC, introducing the singers, songs and doing the commercials. Gary's early professional experience came during the time his father had the "Mike Edwards" radio show.

Margaret Louise (Dooley) Edwards

M. Louise Edwards

Gary and Barbara Jean were very close to their mother. Gary was much like Elvis Presley about his mother, they both grew up in a home where their mother was the foundation of the family and everything the family did was centered around their mother!  Gary told the story about buying a clothes washer and dryer with the first money he earned as a young boy delivering newspapers for the Corbin Times.  Gary fondly recounted,  "The first thing I did, when I saved enough money, was buy my mother a new washer and dryer"!

Gary and Barbara Jean both had many stories and memories about their mother!  She must have been a very special lady and as you can see by the picture, she was a very beautiful lady!  Even as Gary discusses his mother for this story, he teared up from time to time with obvious warm and special memories.

When Gary was nine and Barbara Jean was six years old, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards owned a restaurant and nightclub called "The Steak House" in Corbin.  Louise Edwards managed "The Steak House", Mike Edwards provided the entertainment, with several other entertainers!  Gary watched and learned from all of them, but one performer, in particular, was a beautiful lady singer by the name of "Reba Smith."  Reba allowed Gary to sing with her from time to time!  The patrons of "The Steak House" always enjoyed the young boy's music!  In fact, there were many requests for him to perform when he was at the restaurant.  Gary listened and learned from Reba as well as the other musicians associated with his Dad. In fact his Father, Mike, brought the piano player, Bill Felts, to the Edwards home for rehearsal at least once or twice a week. This gave Gary the opportunity to observe and learn first hand and close-up from another professional.    

On weekends, Gary and Barbara Jean spent many hours at "The Steak House"!  Both mom and dad were working the restaurant and club. In a small town like Corbin, the townspeople went out to eat and be entertained mostly on the weekends, so "The Steak House" was a very busy place.  

They both enjoyed the time at the restaurant, many times they got their homework at one of the tables or booths and assisted in busing tables, washing dishes and anything else that they could do at such a young age.  Both Gary and Barbara Jean told me about looking under the booths for loose change after the restaurant closed for the night, Gary said: "that was a great brother and sister experience and lifetime memory!  We sometimes found as much as ten dollars between the two of  us, I am sure Barbara agrees!  

Eastern Kentucky University

From St.Camillus, Gary attended Eastern Kentucky University.  At Eastern, he was a very popular, well-liked student, he was a friend to everyone. Gary continued to perform whenever he was asked throughout his college life! When Gary was asked about St.Camillus Academy and Eastern, this is what he had to say:  "I enrolled in St.Camillus when I was only five and a half. You had to be seven years old to enroll in the public schools and that was one of the main reasons I didn't go to Corbin's Public Schools. 

Tony Lanham 

One of my good friends from Corbin was Tony Lanham (deceased). Tony and I were classmates and friends throughout Grade School, High School, and College. Tony and I remained friends throughout his life. Tony was a very good athlete throughout school and his life! However, I was sort of a later bloomer, kind of small for my age and didn't play sports because I was too busy singing. I guess I was sort of a nerd, but then again, I thought I was a lover and not a fighter, haha. When I was a freshman in high school I was about five feet seven inches tall. When I graduated from high school, I was six feet two and weighed about 140 pounds".

While at Eastern Gary performed at a college hangout and restaurant called "Specks" and had help from Frank and JoAnn Nassida (owners of Specks)!  Gary had this to say about the Nassida's and Specks:  "I may have not been able to finish college had it not been for their support. They hired "The Maroons" and me to play at SPECK'S and they also fed us well. I recently saw a menu from Specks at the EKU reunion a while back and you could get a hot dinner for .75 cents, a burger and fries was .50 cents. Ahh, the good ole days".

Gary went on to talk about famous people from Eastern; "Probably one of the most famous people to attend  Eastern was good friend, Harvey Yeary, 

Lee Majors at WEKY Radio Station

better known as Lee Majors of 'Six Million Dollar Man' fame. 

Also Mike Morgan, a 1970 graduate who gained recognition as a singer, songwriter and a record producer.

Good friend, Carl Hurley, known as "Americas Funniest Professor," a celebrated comedian and motivational speaker.

Sam Champion, another EKU alumnus, rose to national fame as  the anchor for Good Morning America and ABC News.  

Roy Kidd, also from Corbin, made his mark as a star quarterback at Eastern and Roy went on to become the legendary EKU head football coach he--also earned a place in the 'College Football Hall of Fame'.  

And Doug Whitlock, who earned multiple degrees from EKU and went on to serve as the university's 11th president from 2007 to 2013.

  

Gary spent much time at the local radio station WEKY in Richmond, just hanging out and visiting with the announcers and DJ's.  In fact, the "B" side "Just Checkin" an instrumental by the Maroons was recorded in the studios of WEKY radio station, The recordings were made after the station signed off the air at midnight and took until about 4 to 4:30 am before John Sullivan signed the station back on the air at 5:00 am!  The "A" side  "At The End of Each Day"   was recorded at the "garage studio" of Cecil Jones in Lexington, KY. 

The Maroons

He Graduated from Eastern University in 1963 and enrolled in the University of Kentucky Law School, at which time Gary formed the band called "The Embers" and continued to perform all over Kentucky, at fraternities, sororities, and sock hops, anywhere they could perform.   

Gary Edward talks about his early work experience:

"After I saved enough money, to buy my mother a new washer and dryer, then I saved $350.00 to buy my first car, a black 1949 Studebaker with white wall tires, chrome rims and dual glass-pack mufflers. I kept the roads hot in this car all the way through high school! It was pretty cool, cruising the local Colonel Drive-in on main street in Corbin and Finley's restaurant in London, Kentucky.I remember, there was a skating rink behind Finley's where I performed and sang with"The Shades" many times!

"When I was 14 yrs old I had a two-newspaper routes for the Corbin Times Tribune!  St. Camillus Academy gave me permission to leave school each afternoon at 2:00, so I could go to the Tribune newspaper office and pick up my newspapers.  The school allowed me to substitute working at the paper class credit.  After a year with the paper, I was promoted to head carrier with about 10 or 11 carriers working for me.  I worked in the press room where the papers were coming off of the printing press and I sorted the papers and divided  the papers for each of my carriers!  When I  finished sorting the papers, I delivered my own routes! During the summer months, I continued working for the Tribune and also mowed about 30 lawns every week".

Gary went on to say: "After graduation from high school, I bought a 1954 Ford, with custom made white upholstery and blue piping around the seats. The hood and trunk were shaved, custom horizontal chrome grille, whitewall tires, spinner hubcaps WOW, Loved that car!"  

He also said: "The summer before college, just out of high school, and for three summers during college, I worked as a "bellman" at Cumberland Falls State Park.  The state park paid me about a thousand dollars each summer, the money was  used to pay for my college".  "That was a lot of money in those days."  

In the evenings, if good weather, Cumberland Falls had a recorded music and light show overlooking the Falls. One of Gary's assignments was to take up tickets for that show two or three times a week.  Taking up the show tickets provided him the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and improve his social skills. It also helped him overcome the shyness he lived within early life! The Falls State Park had a non-denominational Church service on Sunday mornings and he sang for those services.

Gary and Sherry Edwards

In the early 1960's Gary was performing throughout the Louisville area at clubs such as The Rathskellar at the Seelbach Hotel, Jim Porters, Flagherty's, The Toy Tiger and the Patio Lounge.  He was also very much in demand throughout the region!

Gary and Sherry - 1998 Gig

"Gene Snyder, owner of The Joni Agency in Louisville signed me to a contract in 1965 and that's when I met Sherry Chenault, who was singing with another group called The Chateaus in Louisville"
Sherry began her musical career as a teenager performing around the Louisville area and on U.S.O. shows. When she joined the "Chateaus", a local Louisville Rock 'n' Roll band, it opened the door to a long and well deserved professional career. From the very beginning, Sherry possessed a strong sultry voice and a stage presence to captivate an audience, not only with her incredible stage performance but with her powerful, soulful voice.  Her musical career has included The Chateaus, Gary and Sherry Edwards (S.A.G.E.), Jerry Kirk and the Heavyweights, Sheer Magic and The Wulfe Pack. 

"It was love at first sight,  we dated for about a year and were married in July 1966 and she started performing with my group, we did mostly sock hops, fraternities, sororities and private  functions all over Kentucky, Indiana  and Ohio.

 In 1968 the song, "I've Got a Lot of Love" which was recorded in Cincinnati on The Fraternity label and had soared to the top five on the radio station charts in Louisville and all over Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.  Gary thought he was on the way to national stardom, success, and recognition, with a great band, a new wife, a song on the charts and bookings every night......but, as luck would have it, later in the year, he was drafted into the US Army.  Basic training was in Fort Knox, KY, and Fort Benjamin, IN then he was sent to Vietnam.  While in Vietnam, they tried to keep their marriage together, Sherry kept the band together and performing, he called every chance he got and letters were written nearly every day, but as happens too many times, they drifted more and more apart!  Both of them became different people during these trying times.  Returning home from Vietnam in 1970, Gary and Sherry realized that things were not the same with their marriage!  

They tried to put their life and music back on track for more than a year but, too much time and life had moved on, they separated in 1971 and were divorced in 1972 however, they remained friends and are still friends today.  Both Gary and Sherry went on to have successful entertainment careers and from time to time perform together in later years. In fact, Gary and Sherry got together in early '88 and did several shows up and down the east coast, Hilton Head and some locally around Louisville.  

Richard Williams of 1956 group called "The Casuals"

Richard Williams 1957

Richard Williams, a native of Nashville, Tennessee has lived in Florida for over twenty years where he continues to be one of the top singer/keyboard artists of our time. Richard, with Buzz Cason, Billy Smith, Chester Powers and the late Johnny McCreery formed Nashville’s original rock ‘n roll band, "The Casuals" in 1956. 

Richard, Buzz and a Fan

"The Casuals" toured all 50 states and Canada with rock stars of the day including Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, The Big Bopper and ultimately became Brenda Lee’s first full time back up band during the time of her mega hits and for several years thereafter. Gary and Richard became good friends and Williams became a mentor to Gary and his bands for many years!

 
In 1971, Gary formed a new band and called it "Gary Edwards and SAGE"!  The group was made up of: Mike Winebrenner on keyboards, Richard Streander on lead guitar, Wes Scott on bass guitar and Glen Howerton on drums.  Gary said; "This group of musicians were absolutely awesome". They played The Rebel Room in Lexington, Kentucky for about six months in 1971 and at the end of their contract, took the show on the road. They played clubs all over the South, Midwest, North, as far up as Maine and South to the Keys in Florida.  The first gig after hitting the road was at The Harness House in Springfield, Illinois where Gary met Richard Williams, who, along with James "Buzz" Cason founded Nashville's first Rock n Roll Band in 1956 called "The Casuals". By the time Gary met Richard, "The Casuals" had become the "Casual Teens" and toured as Brenda Lee's backup band and recorded for Dot Records. The Casuals under the leadership of Richard and Buzz became the teen heartthrob of the time! 
"Richard and I have been friends for over 40 years. He and Buzz Cason were part of the original Casuals that backed Brenda Lee when she had her hit Sweet Nothin. They toured with her for many years".

In 1970 Buzz Cason opened a recording studio, Creative Workshop. in Nashville. Buzz co-wrote, with Mac Guyden "Everlasting Love" which was a huge hit for Carl Carlton in the late 60's. The song has been recorded by numerous artists over the years. 
"Buzz and Creative Workshop produced my first album in 1976 On With the Show. They also did Jimmy Buffet's music and many other big name stars!  We have been friends since the early '70s". 

Richard Williams mentored Gary and the group and helped   create a Las Vegas style show. Taking Richards advice and recommendations from 1971 through 1974 Gary and SAGE  worked 50 weeks a year in nightclubs all over the United States. Richard continued to provide them suggestions, based on his experience with The Casuals, Brenda Lee and many others. In the summer of '74 Gary and SAGE were booked into "The Breakers" in Panama Beach, Florida. 
Gary said;"I finally realized it was during this period that I had developed into an "Entertainer" and not just a singer".  My shows and style, even today are the result of Richard Williams' coaching and molding".

He also said; "After much hard work, rehearsals, pure perseverance and the teachings of Richard Williams, our dream did eventually come true, we opened in Vegas on the first of January 1974 at the Hilton Hotel with Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, B.B. King and the comedian Mort Sahl was a smaller lounge". It appeared that Gary was on his way to international stardom."The experience was tremendous and working with these stars was one of the most exciting experiences in my career"!