Artist:
Gary Hankins singer/songwriter
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ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
SPOT OF BLUE By Micah Issitt
Gary Hankins got the nickname ' Dige’ ' (short for digit), from his great
grandfather, who was a Spanish orphan in
San Diego, California.
Five generations later, Dige has taken his nickname to
the corners of the country before finally landing in Wichita Falls Texas,
the home base from which he has launched his first album, Spot of Blue, a collection of songs that, like their creator, are made from the richness
and variety of the world.
Hankins was born in
Wichita Falls Texas where his father spent forty years
playing with a country western band. Everyone in Hankins' family was
musical. He remembers sitting with his family while his father, mother,
and uncle would sing country ballads set against the storied Texas
landscape.
Hankins moved to
San Diego when he was still a baby and grew up near the
sea, where his grandfather, a
Portuguese fisherman, was still working on a
tuna fleet near the bay. Hankins moved back and forth from Texas to
California for the next few decades absorbing on one side, the country
winds of the Texas grassland and on the other, the salt air and ocean
culture of San Diego.
On the coast, Hankins learned to love surfing, the freedom of the rolling
sea and the musical independence of the ocean wind. Surfing his way from
Mexico up the coast, Hankins visited and eventually moved to
Hawaii where
he spent several years surfing among the paradise shores. As if carried by
the waves he eventually crossed the ocean again and, (by land) moved
around the west living in
Los Angeles,
San Diego, and
Las Vegas.
Hankins' employment history has been as varied as his address: he designed
web pages in Hawaii, worked at the family store in Texas, and in
California he became an
actor being featured in dozens of commercials and
bit parts. Acting, chance, and romance carried him across the ocean again
to the
Czech Republic where he acted in a cult film and toured
Europe,
falling in love with the landscape of
Prague and
Paris.
In Las Vegas, Hankins encountered the underside of humanity, working for a
mortgage company he saw men drive into town in Bentleys and leave by bus.
Eventually, while still living in California, a series of events would
irreversibly change the direction of Hankins' life. It started with the
tragic death of an old friend and the news that his father was growing
ill. The musical blood in Hankins' veins was already stirring when he
moved back to Texas to be near his father.
Back in Wichita Falls, Hankins found himself inspired. Everywhere he
looked, musical ideas filled his mind. A pasture of grazing cows, the wind
flowing through the windows in his father's house. Although Hankins had
always played and sang music, something in his life had snapped, and he
knew that there was something inside him that needed to come out.
Over the next year, Hankins began to write prolifically. The events,
scenery, loves, and tragedies of his life were cohering into a new
persona, a musical voice that Hankins begun to nurture.
Hankins located a studio in the area and began recording his music. At
first he was recording solo pieces and multi-tracking his instruments until
he met
Bart Rose, a brilliant producer who heard and loved Hankins'
unique compositions. Working together, Hankins and Rose began to rework
the music, adding complexity and flavor to the milieu. One thing led to another and Hankins’ was introduced and befriended other musicians such as the brilliant
Tommy Nash (lead guitar) who backed up the
Dixie Chicks for their first 4 years and also tours and gigs with
Jerry Jeff Walker.
Doug Edward Polhamus another talented and focused composer with many film projects to his credits on strings and piano.
Scott and Jeff Miles on bass and drums. Piece-by-piece Spot of Blue came together.
With a growing list of talented musicians, Hankins' music has reached new
levels and is always in search for the core group of musicians to bring together for live performances. Hankins’ own varied history blended with the inspired performances of his session musicians creates an inspired sound, something that mixes a palette
of the American landscape and harnesses it into a beautiful and unique composition.
Spot of Blue contains the freedom of the sea; the open air of Texas, the delicate colors of Hawaii, and the music is
unlike anything else.
Sometimes the music is
haunting, other times
forceful and laden with the
triumphs and
failures of a
rich life. Hankins' vocals can capture the
weary cynicism of
Johnny Cash or the soft optimist of
Jim Croce.
Spot of Blue's debut
"Livin' Life This Way," is sure to capture
fans from
across the musical spectrum. With his first album recorded, Hankins
believes he has found a calling worth the time. He already has another
album planned for the beginning of next year and new songs continue to
emerge in his consciousness, waiting to receive life from his band.
"It's all about visualization," he says. "I want people to hear the music
and create their own visualization, their own ideas about it." Hankins'
music is full of imagination and it is not hard to imagine that while
listening, we might be drawn into the curving spray of the California
coast or thrust into the shadows of a lonely foothill.
Spot of Blue has
the power and honesty to inspire, but the rest is up to you.
Music Reviews of World Music, Adult Contemporary, Reggae, Jazz, Blues, ClassicalDec.2005
The windy plains of Texas are the home of Spot of Blue. The main songwriter for the band is Gary Hankins and his guitar play swaggers between blues-rock, countrified rock-n-roll, and roots rock. His
unconventional voice reminds one of a smart blend of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Spot of Blue could easily rock a juke joint or any bar east and west of the Mississippi.
Good tight songwriting with an emphasis on rockin’.
- J-Sin (
SPOT OF BLUE – LIVIN' LIFE THIS WAY:
Spot of Blue is founder Gary Hankins and a band of diverse, talented players. Gary is a singer/songwriter and rhythm guitar player. Hankins grew up in a musical family and has lived and worked in various parts of the United States. Gary pens
poetic,
real songs about
America, life and travel. His music has a down-home flavor that blends a country base with assorted genres. Livin' Life This Way is Spot of Blue's impressive debut release. It features eleven earthy yet well-arranged songs that are light yet layered and serious. The CD explores a range of moods and "Hankins' vocals can capture the weary cynicism of Johnny Cash or the soft optimism of Jim Croce."
'Acey Deucey' is the playful opening track with cutting guitar chords and breaks flowing over a snappy rhythm. Hankins' vocals on the first song flip from gruff to smooth. The title track has a slow almost jazzy feel as Gary softy sings about the state of people and the planet. A subtle violin and backing vocalists also adds to the rich, reflective nature of the song.
'Amber' is a colorful tune that explores a full spectrum in under four minutes.
Gary Hankins is an imaginative artist and Spot of Blue hits the spot!• Recommended Tracks: (1,6,7) [USA/TX 2005 - web] (2006 Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com)
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[Americana, Country, Pop]
