Gary McFarland

Who was Gary McFarland?

Gary McFarland was an influential composer, arranger, vibraphonist and vocalist, prominent on Verve and Impulse! Records during the 1960s, when he made "one of the more significant contributors to orchestral jazz". He attained a small following after working with Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Hodges, John Lewis, Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, and Anita O'Day.

As well as his own albums and arrangements for other musicians he composed the soundtrack to the film "13". By the end of the 1960s he was moving away from jazz towards an often wistful or melancholy style of instrumental pop, as well as producing the recordings of other artists on his Skye Records label.

McFarland was considering a move into writing and arranging for film and stage when, on November 3, 1971, he was poisoned in a New York City bar.

Bill Evans performed "Gary's Waltz" in 1979, shortly before his own death.