Meet Gary Matheny

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gary Matheny a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gary, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I don’t believe in no. I have always said that when you come to a door, simply close your eyes and walk in. Once inside you have to do something, so make it count. Persistence is a way of life, you can’t be afraid to go after something you want. When I first began writing I had no idea what my music might do, but I entered contests and pursued others in the business to get my name and works out. It has taken time but I am now seeing the benefits of my persistence and drive.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a singer songwriter from Cleveland, Tn. I have always loved music and writing, so I combined the two to follow my passion. Like most kids in the 60s, I played in a small band getting gigs wherever I could. I left that life as an adult to raise a family and have a profession, but picked it up again when I retired. Over the past several years, I have been blessed to win multiple awards including songwriter of the year in 2022 (International Singer Songwriter Assn). I have had a small feature in the Costco Connection magazine which covers over 33 million readers worldwide, achieved the Americana Artist of the Year (Akademia Music, California 2023) and inducted into the Akademia Hall of Fame 2023. I currently have 2 albums, Not Looking Back , a collection of easy listening sounds and Renaissance Man, more of a country rock sound. I hope to have my third album ready in early 2025.

In February, I will be doing a concert in Ringgold, Ga with a fabulous Chicago Tribute Band which I am looking forward to and several other events in the works. I have had my music played around the world and have done many interviews globally. My fan base is outstanding and without them, of course my music would not be heard.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I have always loved to sing. At an early age I can remember standing in the backyard banging on an old guitar singing to our dog. I have sang in church choirs, on church mission trips and even at The Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York. I love to sing and when I am alone in the car, I am bellowing out songs with the radio.

I am an outgoing guy, my wife tells me I am an emcee because I always have to be the the spotlight wherever I go. I love to perform in front of a crowd, a frontman if you will. Stage fright is not in my vocabulary. I never meet a stranger and can always come up with something to make people smile or laugh. I feel my goal in life is to make people smile, if I can tell a joke or make their day, then my day is worth it.

I am a writer and marketer, I have written and published two books, wrote a freelance column for our local paper for about 6 years and a songwriter. I like putting my thoughts onto print and sharing with the globe. My background is in sales and marketing, so I am constantly on the phone and internet selling myself and my brand.

Life is full of ups, downs, defeats and victories. My suggestion is to continue going forward and do not let the no’s or defeats get you down. As Scarlett O’Hara said in that famous line from Gone With The Wind, “Tomorrow is another day.”

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest challenge in todays world is there are so many indie musicians vying for a place in the business, getting a spot is difficult. If you are in this to make a lot of money, go find a real job because streaming has killed royalties for the musician. If you are big brand and have a huge following, then yes you can make a living. Record labels aren’t signing just anyone anymore. Back in the day, if you could play and sing, labels would take a chance on you, not today. That is why I spend the better part of my day marketing my brand, I have control of it and if you can make enough friends in the. business you may have a shot. I am constantly sending my music to radio stations, magazines, promoters and agents in hopes of getting an opportunity. If the opportunity arises, I will be ready, if it doesn’t again I love writing, singing and performing.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

JOM III Gallery Macon Georgias–my photographer.

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