News
JOHNNIE GARRY | "MR. JAZZMOBILE" October 31, 1924 - March 13, 2018
Posted March 20, 2018 · Jazzmobile
It is with great sorrow that Jazzmobile, Inc. announces the passing of the beloved Johnnie Garry. His full and exciting life came to an end on March 13 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was 93.
Director of Jazzmobile, Robin Bell-Stevens stated, "For 35 years, Johnnie served as our Production Coordinator and Historian with dedication, joy, passion, pride and contagious love for America's classical music, jazz and the Harlem community. Having spent 60 years in the entertainment and Jazz industries, Johnnie was a shining star within our organization and was lovingly referred to as Mr. Jazzmobile. He worked with many of the music industry's great legendary and emerging artists, including Dr. Billy Taylor, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Sarah Vaughan, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, B.B. King, Wycliffe Gordon, Dianne Reeves, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis, James Brown, Houston Person, Lou Donaldson, Bobby Sanabria, Antoinette Montague, Monty Alexander, Roy Hargrove, "King" Solomon Hicks, Charenée Wade, Frank Foster, Christian Sands, TK Blue, Randy Weston and hundreds of others."
Johnnie was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Halloween, in 1924. Five years later, his mother moved to Harlem with her only child. By the time he became a teenager, Johnnie had made Harlem his home town and had become friendly with a neighbor who was a popular international singer, Josh White. Mr. White, who saw Johnnie's ambition and impressive work ethic, recommended him to Barney Josephson, the owner of the famed downtown Café Society. He was immediately hired as a member of the stage crew and this is how Johnnie's career in show business began.
While he enjoyed meeting celebrities, such as Lena Horne, he always kept his sight on the bigger picture. Early on, it became clear to Josephson that Johnnie also had the skills to help improve the Café's operation in other areas. Soon after, he was promoted and started working on the management side of the business, enabling him to learn more about running a night club. Always open to the next career opportunity, he met Sarah Vaughan and her road manager, who later hired him to join Ms. Vaughan's management team. Spending more time on the road and demonstrating his natural skills, he became a manager of all her business affairs and stayed with the Vaughan's team for 12 years.
In 1960, he was hired by the legendary jazz club, Birdland, and in a short time he moved up the ranks within the organization and was appointed the coveted position of Club Manager. His acceptance of this offer distinguished him as the first African-American to manage a major downtown night club in New York City.
In 1977, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience, Johnnie joined Jazzmobile as the production coordinator, producing the famed Jazzmobile Free Outdoors Summer Mobile concert series (SUMMERFEST) throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Over the years, Mr. Garry also worked on the "Philip Morris Super (Jazz) Band on Tour," produced with Jazzmobile. This national and international touring festival enabled Johnnie to travel throughout the world. Simultaneously, he was the booking agent and road manager for the Bill Lockett Music Festivals and Jazz Cruises; a stage manager for the Jazz Foundation of America's gala concerts; and was a Charlie Parker Festival producer and stage manager. Johnnie advised the founders of the Festival (The Charlie Parker Foundation) to come into Harlem, and with their enthusiastic support, Johnnie went on to produce the Festival in Marcus Garvey Park for years. Today, the Charlie Parker Festival, now presented by the City Park's Foundation, is held annually in lower Manhattan in Tompkins Square Park and Harlem's historic Marcus Garvey Park, where it still garners rave reviews.
At Jazzmobile, he worked with the President, VP of Programming and Jazzmobile booking agent, the legendary jazz presenter, Jim Harrison, coordinating the talent for all of the organization's programs. In 2012 after 35 years, he retired from Jazzmobile but always stayed in touch with his many friends in Harlem and the Jazz world.
Here to remember and celebrate his life are his loving twin daughter with Nelly, Deanna, her husband George Forbes and their children, Lisa, Michelle, Sixto, Adriana, Leiha, and Jonathan; Alice's daughters Evonne, Evonne's daughter Eve, and Cheryl; a host of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; and many in-laws, other family members, friends and adoring fans from around the world. His mother, Rosalie Garry; first wife Nelly Howard and their children, twin sons, Zachary and Gregory and one of their twin daughters, Dedire; his second wife Alice, and Alice's son-in law, George (Cheryl's husband) all preceded Johnnie in death.
The funeral service will be held in Maryland on Saturday, March 24, 2:30 pm, at the Vaughn Greene Funeral Home, 8728 Liberty Road, Randallstown, MD. Those wishing to send flowers, please arrange for delivery to the funeral home on Saturday, March 24, prior to the service.
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