Ferrier, Garry

Websites:  https://citizenfreak.com/artists/101617-race-marbles
Origin: Toronto, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Garry Ferrier was a multi-talented Canadian creative force, known for his smooth voice, sharp wit, and knack for turning everyday humor into chart-topping hits. For a few years, Ferrier hosted a Sunday night DJ show on Toronto’s CHUM-AM, where his charismatic personality quickly made him a listener favorite. During this time, CHUM frequently released novelty records featuring their on-air personalities, and Ferrier was at the heart of these quirky projects.

His first foray into songwriting success came in 1959 with The Battle of Queenston Heights, a playful parody of The Battle of New Orleans, performed by Mike Darow & The CHUMS. Ferrier’s knack for penning clever lyrics, combined with his velvety voice, soon made him a natural choice as the station’s frontman for novelty hits. In 1963, his first charting single, President’s Canada Conference, cracked the CHUM Top 30.

Ferrier’s songwriting prowess hit a new stride in March 1964, when CHUM’s top personalities - Garry Ferrier, Bob McAdorey, Mike Darow, and John Spragge - collaborated on Brotherhood of Man, released on Quality Records. Another Ferrier-penned track, it became a CHUM Top-30 hit. Later that year, his solo single Ringo-Deer, a playful riff on Beatlemania, soared into the Top 10 in December 1964. Ferrier became a central figure in CHUM’s massive promotional campaigns when the Beatles came to Toronto in 1964 and 1965, thanks to the station’s close ties with Capitol Records and Paul White, who had signed the Beatles to their Canadian deal in 1963.

Ferrier’s creativity wasn’t confined to Beatlemania. In Fall 1965, he teamed up with fellow CHUM personality Brian Skinner to release a Halloween-themed single, Do the Frankie, under the name Brian & Garry and The Chain Rattlers. Although it didn’t chart, Ferrier remained undeterred. That same year, he lent his voice and wit to the Dylan parody Like A Dribblin’ Fram, credited to the fictitious band Race Marbles, which broke into the Top 40.

In 1968, Ferrier shifted gears, becoming Program Director for CHUM FM, a role he held until 1969. His talents extended beyond radio and records - he ventured into television music, co-writing incidental scores for CBC shows like Check It Out and King of Kensington with collaborator Aubrey Tadman. The duo also contributed to the revived version of Keith Hampshire’s Music Machine, alongside music director Doug Riley. Later, Ferrier took his skills to Nashville, where he wrote for the iconic Johnny Cash TV Show, cementing his status as a versatile and prolific creative figure in Canadian entertainment history.