[size=1]Here's the story[/size]

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[size=1]About GARRET FACTORY[/size]
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[size=1] Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter/Producer

Welcome to the website of Garret Factory, a musician who will charm you with his music, singing, and guitar playing. Many people see and hear him performing with his guitar as a solo, or in duo, or trio; perhaps laid back, elegant, with romantic singing and entertaining. Yet in many of his band configurations, he's dancing around the stage rocking the crowd as an excited showman; sometimes shaking like a leaf, or bouncing off the walls or floor. His signature rhapsodic-style dance moves, combined with his very wacky guitar playing, always turn a dance floor into a fun frenzy! Garret Factory's original music has been heard from radio shows and television specials to festivals and concert halls. His charisma, energy, and exuberance continue to keep the crowd danced, entranced, and romanced.

Throughout the Music Industry, many artists and bands don't write their own songs; instead they record, sing, and play songs that are composed by other writers. Unlike many artist/bands in the Music Industry, Garret writes and performs songs that do not all sound the same! He writes, produces, and arranges differently by not continually repeating formula as prescribed almost everywhere in the industry. He is inspired by concept, and by daring to be different. You get to enjoy choosing something different, and not the usual commercially-driven formula music coming from the dictated music industry standard.

Acoustic and electric guitarist - singer - songwriter, Garret Factory has become well know in the southeast U.S. for his live performances and his unique recordings. He is able to present a wide variety of shows in diverse styles: rock, blues, soul, ballads, reggae, alternative rock, fusion, swing, rockabilly, with some jazz and instrumental music as well!

The nationwide music company 'Bridging the Music' nominated Garret Factory as GA Solo Artist of the Year in the 2015 Georgia Music Awards Show.

Garret Factory has opened shows in concert with: Basia, Black Uhuru, Karla Bonoff, Edie Brickell, Stanley Clarke, Bo Diddley, Nanci Griffith, Inner Circle, Sleepy LaBeef, Stephen & Damian Marley, The Police, The Ramones, Al Stewart, Kirk Whalum, Francine Reed, Bruce Hampton, Will & the Bushmen, The Tams, Townes Van Zandt, and many others; and he continues to perform major festivals, concerts, & events. As a singer-songwriter Garret Factory has received much attention by the media, press, & fans alike. Some of his songs have been published by DSM-NewYork/Florida-Warner Chappell Music Publishing.

Garret Factory is known for being the very first writer of an original song called 'Whooping Crane' (Library of Congress ©1987 #PAu 350-214, and previously copyright registered ©1981 #PAu 350-372). He is also known as being an original, an originator, not an imitator; simply only an inventor, a creator of timeless music in many different realms. There is a long list of requested favorite songs from his fans such as: Broken Wing, Maze of Dreams, Silent Thunder, Days of the Funky Progression, I'm an Artist, Industrial Way, Average Guy, Life of a Fortress, Gimme Your Love, Whooping Crane, Pumping Pulse, Take Me Back to Jamaica, You're My Specialist, Kitchen Cookin Blues, Love Ya Like Guacamole, Rock With the Flock, and his list continues on! Garret's recent CD album release with his band, Whooping Cranes, delivers another new collection of 14 original songs.

In addition to his trio/duo/solo offerings, guitarist-singer Garret Factory also performs with the bands: 'Whooping Cranes' funky rock soul band, 'Crucial Dread' reggae soca calypso band, and the infamous zany rock band 'The Businessmen'.[/size]

[size=1]History[/size]

[size=1]As a youth, Garret was a singer in stage shows, boys chorus, solo with guitar, and by age 13 he began pursuing songwriting. In high school talent shows he won awards for his original songs. Attending Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he was chosen a member of HSPVA's 'Young Performers'; one of twelve singer-dancers backed by the school's stage band, and performed in many large venues, including Houston's Music Hall, Sam Houston Coliseum, and AstroWorld. During high school and through college, Garret entertained solo, duo, or trio, in restaurant such as: Damian's Restaurant, Old Quarter Tavern, Mariner Seafood, Steak & Ale, Gallagher's Restaurant locations, and many others in the Houston/Galveston area.

Garret entered music school at the U of Houston and then transferred in his sophomore year to Sam Houston State University/Huntsville, TX, where a guitar study program was offered. He achieved his BA in Music (with split major in voice, guitar, and composition), and earned his minor in Business. Also he studied mandolin, harmonica, bass, piano, and percussions. He played solo and with bands while earning his way through college, as well as affording musical instruments, PA gear, studio demo recordings, etc. striving to become a professional musician. He recorded and produced his first LP 'Lack of Sleep' (Earth Records, Houston, TX) at Sound Arts Studio while in college.

Garret Factory characterizes a performing and recording artist who has lived the working life of dock worker, factory worker, courier, event manager, production/purchasing manager, salesman, and farm/ranch hand. These occupations have yielded much expression and realism in his music and writing.

Garret Factory moved with Interchange Records & Productions from Texas to Atlanta, GA in July 1988. On the heels of releasing his "Gulf Coast State of Mind" LP, in October 1988 Garret began touring the Southeast US for 3-4 tours per year as a soloist (with musician friends sitting in along the way). These 'Gulf Coast Tours' presented Garret Factory to audiences in major cities from Athens, GA to Austin, TX.

In Atlanta, Garret Factory performed solo as house musician at Picasso's Cafe, and at Dante's Down the Hatch Restaurants for over 4 years. His band has performed as regulars at CJ's Landing, Paradise Grill, Poor Richards, American Pie, and at many other venues. The band performed as a feature band in Fat Tuesday's 1992-96 Jazz & Heritage Festivals in Atlanta. Garret's group performed many times in the Decatur Arts Festival, the City Stages Festival in Birmingham, Columbus Uptown Jam Festival, and Columbus River Fest. During the 1996 Summer Games, Garret's band played many shows on the Budweiser 'Celebration of the Century' Stage, adjacent to Olympic Centennial Park. Other shows hosting Olympic visitors were performed in Underground Atlanta, and Clark University's Pascal's Center. His bands have performed on the showboat, and on the pavilions at Stone Mountain Park; also including events for the Amistad Party Yacht, and other yacht parties from Lake Lanier Islands.[/size]

[size=1]Support[/size]

[size=1]Since Garret Factory relocated to Atlanta, he and his band have received many press articles in Atlanta's Creative Loafing, Decatur's News/Sun, Atlanta Footnotes, Atlanta Journal/Constitution, Columbus Playgrounds, and other supportive regional publications. Garret performed live many times in Atlanta's WRFG radio shows. Atlanta's WRAS-GSU, WREK-GATech, WRFG, and many internet & college radio stations are giving airplay to Garret's albums.

In Texas he received mention in Marty Racine's Critics Choice column of the Houston Chronicle, and the Chronicle's Zest-Sneak Preview 'Best Bets', along with gaining support from Houston's Public News, Houston Press, Houston Music News, Texas Buddy Magazine, Fitzgerald's Fitzherald, Austin Chronicle, Austin Music News, and the Austin Statesman's 'Best Bets'. Houston's KPFT Public Radio and Rice University's KTRU, as well as Austin's KUT Radio, continue to support Garret Factory music with airplay.

Even though many well-known artists & bands were traditionally not willing to perform in the South (Southeast US), Garret embraced the challenge of building a new grass roots circuit. He worked by continuously touring and performing in venues such as: Widow Watson's in Biloxi & Jackson, MS, the Library in Baton Rouge, LA, and T.P. Crockmeyer's in Mobile & Montgomery, AL, and the Lumberyard in Mobile, AL, as well as many other more remote areas of AL, GA, TN, NC, FL, & TX; henceforth, his rockin' live CD album entitled: 'The Drive Off the Map'. In 2012, Garret and his band released a CD album of originals entitled: 'Whooping Cranes - Rock With the Flock' on Interchange Records, and the album includes the Whooping Crane horn section on many songs. Garret and Whooping Cranes performed CD Release Event shows in 2012 at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar in Houston, TX, and at Red Light Cafe in Atlanta, GA.

So, if you are in the East, West, or North, and you keep hearing a sort of faint-howling sound in your ears, it's probably just Garret Factory who continues rockin' the South!

For additional History info, check out the band websites for: Whooping Cranes, Crucial Dread, and The Businessmen.

Your help and support with purchases of products, referrals for bookings, and attending live shows is GREATLY appreciated![/size]



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