A longtime Lakewood resident, singer-songwriter Gary Hoopengardner will be acting as our Ambassador to Germany when he undertakes a two-week stint of concerts in Berlin later this month.

“Hoop,” as he’s often called, can trace his roots in Rock n Roll back to the British Invasion. His musical career commenced in 1965, with Hoop holding down the John Lennon duties in a Beatles cover band. The group opened for such classic acts as Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Lovin’ Spoonful, and Neil Diamond, before disbanding in 1967.

In the late 60s and early 70s Hoop performed with a soul band called The Motions of Soul (later called Underdog), which developed a large cult following in the region before interpersonal frictions resulted in the group disbanding in 1972. Hoop then founded a record label, Sound Stage Recording, which recorded and produced a weekly one-hour radio show, “The Midnight Smiling Dog Saloon Concert Series,” which aired every Saturday night on WMMS. The program aired concert recordings of legendary jazz acts like McCoy Tyner, Charles Mingus, Jan Hammer, and Stanley Turrentine.

For the next seventeen years, Hoopengardner’s music took a backseat to being a father. As they grew older, however, Gary’s children encouraged him to pick up his guitar and get back into writing music. He wasted no time getting back into the groove of practicing, performing, and songwriting, and soon had a weekly Friday night gig at the Lakewood Phoenix.

“I write songs reflecting who I am through my feelings about what I observe and experience,” says Hoop. “I am not an alienated being living outside of society telling people what to think and feel. I am not a preacher or leader, only a reflection of us all.” Hoop’s eldest son, Gary Hoopengardner Jr., a prodigiously gifted jazz bassist, relocated to Berlin, Germany several years ago, along with tenor sax man Joshua Yellon, citing the far greater availability of work – and appreciation – available to pedigreed jazz musicians in Europe.

The ground thus prepared, Hoop embarked on his first dates in Berlin in October, 2005. His reception was more than cordial, as on his arrival he came face-to-face with oversized posters throughout the city! Gary’s authentic blues and rock stylings prompted freelance photo journalist Frank Weiner to declare, “Ungaublich… her ist die ‘real deal.’”

His latest album, Julie’s Place (2006), features the singles “The Sidewalks of Berlin” and “Git-R-Done.” Hoop will be performing these cuts and more as he kicks off his German dates on October 26. Classic Berlin clubs hosting Hoop include The Harlem Club, The White Trash, The Artliner, The Bebop Bar, and others. He returns to Lakewood in mid-November.

Hoop has done Lakewood proud once again and we look forward to a new crop of songs inspired by this tour appearing in 2008!