Biography
As a young child Gerald was constantly surrounded by various musical genres that would inadvertently influence his life. His father (once a classical trained trumpeter) would play recordings of everything ranging from Ray Charles to Motown to Mozart. His mother would take him to church every Sunday morning where he was baptized in the soulful melodies of foot stomping gospel music. But after church, he spent his Sunday afternoons with his father who also worked as a manager at Chances R, a popular Hyde Park restaurant during the early 1980's. Gerald would fall asleep to the masterful jazz sounds of Chicago's most distinguished jazz artists such as saxophonist Jimmy Ellis, pianist Jodie Christian, and bassist Bill Yancey. It was here that Gerald fell in love with the sultry tones of the saxophone. At the age of 9 Gerald began playing the saxophone in his grammar school concert band and would continue to play in school bands until graduating from high school. Although receiving only minimum formal instruction (private lessons were not an afforded luxury) his musical ear and natural abilities contributed to him winning a gold medal in the Illinois State Solo Competition and maintaining first chair throughout school. Upon entering college, Gerald lost interest in playing the saxophone and pursued a bachelors degree in Kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. But during his third year of studies his inevitable flame for music would be reignited. While working part time at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, a co worker/friend invited Gerald to a Wednesday night bible study where he saw the dire need for church musicians. Instantly a burning desire to play his saxophone emerged and he became consumed by it, so much that he called on an old acquaintance from his past...jazz guru Jimmy Ellis. Jimmy was amazed by Gerald's devotion and raw talent and quickly took him under his wing, becoming his mentor. Since then, Gerald has shared the stage with a host of accomplished musicians (the late Sonny Seals, Pharez Whitted, Jodie Christian, Maggie Brown to name a few) and has appeared in periodicals such as Intermezzo. A believer in Christ and always mindful of God, the source of his talent, Gerald plays regularly with his church's music ministry (New Life Covenant). The debut of his first CD entitled Fearless showcases his ability not only to play but write music as well. All tracks were created and written by Gerald and is testament to one of Chicago's most dynamic rising talents.