LNC Music
January 31, 2022
LaShawn D. Gary is an Emmy Award Winning Producer, Composer, Smooth Jazz Artist and Pianist. He is a native of Detroit, Michigan and received his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Southern University A&M College, and earned a Master’s of Music Education Degree from the University of Louisville.
LaShawn has released four Smooth Jazz singles: “Now is the Time (2019) '', “Love, Peace & Praise (2020)”, “Inception, featuring Mark Whitfield (2021)” and “Line Brothers (2021).” “On The Yard” (2022) is his newest single from his upcoming album scheduled for release on April 17, 2022. He is also the featured artist on “For Your Love” on Smooth Jazz Network 2021 Artist of the Year Willie Bradley’s new album.
LaShawn is currently on staff as a composer for the television mini-series “Terror Lake Drive” featuring Malik Yoba, Shannon Kane and Lamman Rucker. He has worked as a composer/arranger in commercial advertisement with Burrell Communications, Global Hue and Yessian Music. His musical talents were displayed on television in the production of the Toyota Avalon “Son-in-Law” commercial, the introductory advertisement of the Ford Fiesta, Xfinity “Unplug” Commercial and the Happy’s Pizza Jingle featuring the Four Tops. LaShawn was the Choir Director for the McDonald’s 365 Black Awards directing the Southern University Gospel Choir with Erica Campbell and the Louisiana Leadership Institute Drum-line performance with American Idol winner, singer, and actress Jordan Sparks.
In March 2015, LaShawn worked with Grammy Award winning singer Patti Austin, Greg Phillinganes, and Sanchez Harley as the Assistant Choir Director for the Charles H. Wright Museum 50th Anniversary Celebration “Oh Freedom.”In 2015, LaShawn also released his debut album, “Love, Peace, and Praise.” The decade ended as the Emmy Award winning producer and fellow producing partners, Bill Bowen and Mike Ellison released “Detroit: One Nation Under A Groove”, a YouTube video featuring the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences Choir which received over a million views in the first month. The team was also awarded two Detroit Music Awards for “Outstanding Music Video” and “Outstanding Urban Recording”.
LaShawn is a music educator with Southfield Public Schools and serves as the Director of Music at Oak Grove AME Church. He is currently the Executive Director for the Michigan Fine Arts Institute, formerly known as the Beverly Thomas Fine Arts Institute. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, The American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). He is married to Cherida D. Gary and together they have two children Nigel and Niyah.
"Students of Southern University A & M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana affectionately refer to the campus as “On The Yard”. This song is a reflection of my diligent pursuit to become an accomplished pianist, composer, arranger and music educator as an undergraduate student at the prestigious SU. As a member of the world renowned “Human Jukebox” Marching Band and the 1992 winner of the Tourgee Debose National Classical Piano Competition, I was recruited by the late, great Jazz Clarinetist, Alvin Batiste (recording artist), to join the jazz ensemble, and the rest is H-I-Story; my story." - LaShawn D. Gary
