Gary Boyle

b. 24 November 1941, Patna, India. After learning to play the guitar during childhood, Boyle attended the Leeds College of Music in the north of England in the early 60s. He then joined Eclection, a folk rock band. His first high-profile engagement was a mid-60s spell with singer Dusty Springfield. He then made concert tours of the UK, Europe and the USA, and also sometimes recorded, backing artists such as Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll. In the early 70s he was a London-based session musician, appearing on numerous albums as well as playing on radio, television and on film scores, together with a stint composing jingles. Among artists with whom he recorded during this period are Mike Gibbs, Bert Jansch, Keith Tippett, Mike Westbrook, Norma Winstone and Stomu Yamash’ta. He also backed saxophonist Eddie Harris for a gig at Ronnie Scott’s club. Despite all this activity, Boyle was eager to lead his own band and in 1973 he formed Isotope with, initially, Jeff Clyne (bass), Brian Miller (keyboards) and Nigel Norris (drums). During the two years of this jazz fusion band’s existence there were national and international tours and a number of albums. In the late 70s, now a solo artist, Boyle was voted New Star in the Melody Maker Poll and his first solo album, The Dancer, won the Pop/Jazz Award at the Montreux International Jazz Festival. In the early 80s Boyle was resident for a while in Denmark, where he recorded further albums. Back in the UK, he formed a trio he named Triple Echo with which group he featured the Roland Guitar Synthesizer. He also became deeply involved in education and has taught at several establishments, chiefly in the north west of England, including Wigan & Leigh College and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. In addition to jazz rock fusion, Boyle has also sustained an interest in traditional folk music. Other artists with whom Boyle appeared over the years are John Etheridge, Jim Mullen and Eberhard Weber. In the early 00s, in addition to leading his own trio, he was also co-leader of the Gary Boyle/Nat Birchall Quartet and sometimes worked in duo with singer Brigitte Escobar.
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