Gary Lee Usher (December 14, 1938 – May 25, 1990)[1] was an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer, who worked with numerous California acts in the 1960s, including
the Byrds,
the Beach Boys, and
Dick Dale. Usher also produced fictitious surf groups or
hot rod groups, mixing studio
session musicians with his own troops (
Chuck Girard, Dick Burns and others). These bands included
the Super Stocks (with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run"); the Kickstands;[2]the Hondells with their No. 9 US pop single "
Little Honda"; and others.
Death
Usher died of
lung cancer at his home in his hometown of
Los Angeles,
California, on May 25, 1990, at the age of 51.[3]
Survivors include his wife, Sue, three sons and a daughter.
^David N. Howard, Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings, 2004,
ISBN147685209X: "Ever since Usher's early surf and hot rod days, he had been creating fictitious studio groups such as The Super Stocks and The Kickstands, imaginary bands to sate the hungry surf and hot rod record-buying audience."
Gary Lee Usher (December 14, 1938 – May 25, 1990)[1] was an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer, who worked with numerous California acts in the 1960s, including
the Byrds,
the Beach Boys, and
Dick Dale. Usher also produced fictitious surf groups or
hot rod groups, mixing studio
session musicians with his own troops (
Chuck Girard, Dick Burns and others). These bands included
the Super Stocks (with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run"); the Kickstands;[2]the Hondells with their No. 9 US pop single "
Little Honda"; and others.
Death
Usher died of
lung cancer at his home in his hometown of
Los Angeles,
California, on May 25, 1990, at the age of 51.[3]
Survivors include his wife, Sue, three sons and a daughter.
^David N. Howard, Sonic Alchemy: Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings, 2004,
ISBN147685209X: "Ever since Usher's early surf and hot rod days, he had been creating fictitious studio groups such as The Super Stocks and The Kickstands, imaginary bands to sate the hungry surf and hot rod record-buying audience."