About
As a veteran of 50 years in the music business, life is good for Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee Gary Ogan.
From his first major label release on Elektra Records in 1972, to his move to Los Angeles in 1977 to sign with Leon Russell’s Paradise Records, Ogan learned the ropes and went on to blaze his own unique trail, touring the U.S. and Europe, writing and recording hundreds of songs, and making lifelong friends along the way.
The mid-90’s saw Ogan moving to Nashville where he signed as staff songwriter with Sony/ATV Tree, who published over 60 of his songs. Since then, in addition to continuing to write, record, and perform his own music, Gary had a four year stint drumming in The Darrell Scott Band, another two years producing Danny O’Keefe‘s “Looking Glass and the Dreamers”, and the last seven years has found him subbing on keys in the popular Portland based Motown tribute band, Kris Deelane And The Hurt.
Ogan’s newest passion was sparked by a curiosity in his own Cherokee DNA, and has opened many doors as a result, like providing opportunities to create and produce new music for author & activists, Winona LaDuke (Ojibwe), and the late John Trudell (Santee Sioux). Ogan has also become bandleader to The Flying Eagle Band, a Portland based tribute band to the late Kaw/Creek sax legend, Jim Pepper, as well as COB to The Jim Pepper Native Arts Council.