Who Is Gary Strickland

      Born and raised in Georgia, Gary Strickland brings a lifetime of musicality, performance, and storytelling to every stage he steps on. A multi-instrumentalist with an eclectic style, Gary’s performances are as varied and vibrant as the array of instruments he plays—from trumpet and flugelhorn to washboard and pennywhistle (yes, really).

        Gary’s career began in Savannah, where he made a name for himself as both an accomplished jazz musician and a professional clown—earning the title of Ronald McDonald for the Southeast while serving as director of the historic Savannah Theatre. During this time, he also performed with jazz legends like Teddy Adams, Chris Chandler, Joe Jones, and the late Ben Tucker, and appeared regularly with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, narrating beloved pieces such as Peter and the Wolf and The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

        He has written numerous family-friendly musicals, self-published several children’s books, and continues to create performances that captivate audiences of all ages.

         In the 1990s, Gary took his talents to Atlanta, performing with the city’s top blues and jazz musicians and fronting the Decatur-based band Jungle Jim and the Swingsets. He toured internationally with the Atlanta blues band Mudcat, sharing the stage with music icons like Frank Edwards and Buddy Guy, and even recorded with The Indigo Girls. Alongside his music, Gary taught theatre and improv at The Alliance Theatre Company and brought laughter to audiences in comedy clubs and with the improv troupe Laughing Matters.

        The new millennium saw the birth of The Fisheyed Fools, Gary’s Contemporary Christian band that played concerts and youth events across the Southeast alongside artists such as Jesse Manibusan, Matt Maher, and Steve Angrisano. His performances have taken him from Seattle to Nigeria, and everywhere in between—including appearances at the Savannah and Nashville Rock and Roll Marathons.

        Currently, Gary serves as the Director of Music and Worship at Calvary Baptist Temple in Savannah, while continuing to perform as a solo artist and one-man-band for American Cruise Lines and venues throughout the Southeast. Whether he’s picking up a slide trumpet, harmonica, guitar, or something more unexpected, Gary’s shows are always family-friendly, joyfully unpredictable, and steeped in Southern charm.