Gary was born in Richmond, VA in 1979, and after a brief few years in Roanoke Rapids, NC, split his child hood between playing around the mines and woods of Midlothian, VA, and skateboarding. In his early teens, he discovered punk rock, forming the band Golden Llamas, with friend and fellow Boy Scout and Skateboarder, Patrick Daly. And when they discovered the local Richmond punk scene, the band became 500$FINE, named in protest of the cities enforcement of its curfew law at shows.
After playing clubs and house shows in his teens with the band in the RVA punk scene, and the passing of Patrick Daly, and coupled with his discovery of a love for audio engineering, he began writing and recording solo music in the tradition of American folk music, but with punk energy.
Gary’s music is reflective of a life-long belief in music as a method for examination of life, and a vehicle for social change, drawing on his experience over the years working as a political activist as well as an advocate for mental health awareness. Its also draws on the buddhist-influenced sense of balance he has applied to his own life, as a person living with a autoimmune disorder, and as a parent.
Since 2001, Gary has released dozens of releases under his own name, as well as instrumental music under various AKAs. He also began collaborating with other musicians: emcee Ben FM, emcee Timbo King (as Mineral Writes), as one half of Rival Kinds, as singer of 92FU, and since 2019, as singer and guitarist with a re-united 500$Fine. He has also written and published books, ranging from collections of his visual art, essays, and fiction, via the label’s publishing arm, OVORL! / Debackle.
