Gary Girouard

Some wise man once said; "you don't choose your passions; your passions choose you." Well, for Gary Girouard that passion has always been the piano. As a child growing up in the suburbs of Boston, Gary studied classical piano and was writing his first compositions when he was just 11 years old. He didn’t aspire to be a classical musician, he was just a middle-class kid that loved the piano – playing in bands and listening to an eclectic mix of music that ranged from Debussy to Pink Floyd. After receiving a music degree, he spent a year living in Milan, Italy - backpacking through Europe while writing pop music on a battery-operated keyboard. When he returned, he landed a job selling pianos at a local piano store – developing his style "after-hours" on a fleet of Steinway pianos. At the urging of friends, family and colleagues, Gary finally turned his passion for the piano into a music CD and in March of 2004, Girouard released his debut album - "The Naked Piano". The album is a tribute to the timeless nature of the piano and features a collection of compositions that blends classical, new age and pop influences into what the editor of Boston Live hails as "a masterpiece...a testament to the gracious sounds of a fluid live recording". With titles and settings that reflect influences from Boston, Italy and Cape Cod, these compositions are inspired by such universal themes as love, nature and family. The Naked Piano was recorded live - without edits or effects - on a 9' concert grand Steinway in historic Steinert Hall – the Boston piano store where Girouard once sold pianos. The Naked Piano is targeted at an adult audience that is seeking an escape from an otherwise hectic lifestyle. Girouard comments: "People lead increasingly stressful lives. The Naked Piano is a simple response - highlighting a beautiful instrument in its most pure and natural form. Whether it's cooking, dining or driving in your car, there are times when we all could use some refreshing piano music". Wilton Syckes, President of the Piano Travelers Association heralds The Naked Piano as "the most expressive, relaxing piano music I have ever experienced...as one with a lifetime love of music, I could listen to these compositions for a lifetime". Giving a nod to past experiences, Girouard has attached a worthy cause to The Naked Piano album - donating a portion of each CD sale to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp (www.holeinthewallgang.org) - a special place in Ashford, CT that provides a true camp experience for children with cancer and serious blood disorders - a place where Girouard worked as a volunteer session counselor between 1990 and 1999.