Gary Burton

Description

Gary Burton (b. Anderson, IN, January 23 1943) is an American jazz vibraphonist and composer. <p>Having been self-taught on the vibraphone, Burton developed a style of four-mallet chording as an alternative to the usual two-mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique were widely imitated. <p>Burton is notable as one of very few openly gay musicians in jazz history, and has stated that his coming out in his 40s had no adverse consequences for his career as he had feared.<p>At six years old, Burton taught himself to play piano and formally studied piano and composition when in high school. Burton has cited jazz pianist Bill Evans as a main inspiration for his approach toward the vibraphone. <p>A self-taught vibraphonist, Burton attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the early 1960s. He studied with Herb Pomeroy and soon befriended the composer and arranger Michael Gibbs. He has been on the staff of Berklee since 1971, most recently...