Gary Ballen

In 1978 I loaded up my guitars and headed west from Columbus, Ohio to Los Angeles to manage a huge rehearsal studio in the San Fernando Valley. Among the groups I worked with were Chaka Khan & Rufus, Toto, Three Dog Night, the Knack, Air Supply and many, many more.

From 1980-1983 I did my first major touring as a production manager, merchandising manager and occasional opening act for Air Supply. When I wasn’t on the road, I was performing at an English Pub in Woodland Hills called the Pickwick Pub, where I played my wide and diverse repertoire of songs for 25 years, till it burned down in 2006. Some of our patrons were Ronnie Dio, Air Supply, Eazy E, Pink, David Gilmore, Lisa Marie Presley and Jimmy Fallon.

I have always been a proponent of “giving back” to the community and I had the opportunity to help organize and be the opening act for Jackson Browne & Ben Harper at the Boardinghouse Mentoring Benefit for high risk kids in the inner city.

My favorite gig’s are playing at the Veterans Hospital every other week in Westwood. I've been doing that for over two years now and it is very rewarding. I play in the Dementia and Alzheimer ward for vets from WW2, the Korean War, Vietnam, etc. I also love playing every week at the Los Angeles Jewish Home and the View Heights Convalescent Home in South Central Los Angeles.

I have been playing guitar and singing since I've been 8 years old. I was always performing in elementary school, junior high, high school, college and beyond. It's been my passion and mission in life. I never aspired to be a recording artist, I prefer playing classic songs that make people happy and they can sing and dance to, from Sinatra to Elvis, Beatles, Eagles, Motown, etc.

I currently sing every Friday night at Rock & Roll Pizza @ The Rack in Woodland Hills, Ca. The atmosphere is pure rock & roll and lots of fun. I do all requests all night. I got this laminated sheet with hundreds of songs that people can choose from but I'll try anything. I do all the sing along songs (American Pie, Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Caroline, etc) the fun stuff. Come on out, I may get you up on stage with me.