Gary Dale Puckett^[1](born October 17, 1942) is an American singer widely known as the lead vocalist forGary Puckett & The Union Gap, who had six consecutive gold records in 1968, including "Woman Woman", "Young Girl", "Lady Willpower", "Over You". "Don't Give In to Him" and "This Girl Is a Woman Now"

Gary Puckett
Puckett performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Gary Dale Puckett
Born	(1942-10-17)October 17, 1942 (age 82) Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S.
Origin	San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1964–present
Labels	Columbia Sony Juslor Orchard
Formerly of	Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Spouse	Lorrie Haimes ​ (m. 2000)​
Website	garypuckettmusic.com

After the Union Gap disbanded in 1971, Puckett signed to Columbia and embarked on a solo career. After a decade-long hiatus starting in 1972, he returned to music in the early 1980s, and has since released a handful of studio albums.^[2]

Puckett was born inHibbing, Minnesota. When he was six, his family moved toYakima, Washington^[3] (not far fromUnion Gap, Washington), where he grew up. Puckett learned how to sing and play guitar during his teens.^[4]

He went to college for two years inSan Diego,California, majoring inpsychology,^[5][6] then dropped out to work in a band called the Outcasts.

Gary's first group was The Outcasts, which included Bobby Brown (bass), Dwight Bement (saxophone; also later member of the Union Gap), Bob Salisbury (saxophone), and Willie Kellogg (drums).^[7] Originally formed as aRighteous Brothers-styled duo by Puckett and Brown, their manager Yale Kahn, owner of the Clairemont Bowl, added Bement, Salisbury, and Kellogg to the lineup.

After releasing two singles, "Run Away / Would You Care" (1965) and "I Can't Get Through To You / I Found Out About You" (1966), the group split up in 1967.^[7]

In January 1967, Puckett and Dwight Bement formed Gary and the Remarkables withKerry Chater (August 7, 1945 – February 4, 2022, bass)^[8] Gary 'Mutha' Withem (born August 22, 1944, keyboards), and Paul Wheatbread (born February 8, 1946, drums). The break came for the group whenJerry Fuller, a former country music artist and a producer for Columbia Records inLos Angeles, heard them at a small bar where they were performing in a bowling alley complex. Fuller liked their sound and signed them to a contract.

They were now going under the name Gary Puckett & The Union Gap and would be known for hits such as "Lady Willpower", "Young Girl" and "Woman, Woman". They sold more records in 1968 than any other group and had six consecutive gold records^[9] as well as making two appearances onThe Ed Sullivan Show (1968, 1971). Their song "Woman, Woman" was an adaptation of the country hit by theGlaser Brothers called "Girl, Girl". On records, they wore Civil War outfits, as suggested by Puckett, and called themselves the Union Gap after theUnion Gap area where Puckett had lived.

The band were nominated for aGrammy Award forBest New Artist in 1969, losing out toJosé Feliciano.

The group eventually grew unhappy with doing material written and produced by others, leading them to stop working withFuller, and they disbanded in 1971.

Gary re-formed the band sometime in the early 1980s and, since signing to them in 1984, has performed with them at the yearly "Happy Together" tours, alongsideHoward Kaylan andMark Volman ofThe Turtles (who started up the tour),The Association,The Cowsills,Ron Dante ofThe Archies,Chuck Negron ofThree Dog Night,The Buckinghams,The Box Tops,The Vogues, andThe Classics IV.^[10]

As of around 2012, their current line-up consists of Puckett, Woody Lingle (bass), Jamie Hilboldt (keyboards), and Mike Candito (drums).

The Union Gap's "Greatest Hits" album was one ofCBS' best selling "Collector Series" albums.^[11]

In 1974 "Young Girl" was reissued in theUK where it reached number five and achieved a Silver Record Award for the second time.^[11]

After the Union Gap split, Puckett released a solo album titledThe Gary Puckett Album that same year.

He released a few singles from 1970 to 1972, with his first two being a cover ofDusty Springfield's 1964 song, "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" and a cover ofSimon & Garfunkel's "Keep The Customer Satisfied" (a song Puckett performed onThe Ed Sullivan Show in January 1971).^[12]

After the release of his 1971 album, Puckett's contract was terminated.^[4]

He lived a private life throughout the rest of the 1970s, studying acting and dance and working in theatrical productions in and aroundLos Angeles, before he made a comeback in the music industry as a solo artist in the 1980s.

Puckett was on the bill for the first Monkees reunion tour in 1986, along withthe Grass Roots andHerman's Hermits.^[11]

After a decade out of the public eye, Puckett releasedMelodie (1982) followed byLove Me Tonight (1992),As It Stands (1995),Time Pieces (1996), andIs This Love (1997), as well as a Christmas album in 2001.^[11] Puckett's latest album isThis Is Love (2006).

Puckett, along withMichael McDonald, joinedRingo Starr & His All-Starr Band inSan Diego as a guest to sing theBeatles song "With a Little Help from My Friends" on June 26, 2000.^[13]

He was interviewed byStudio 10 in 2019.^[14]

Puckett opened a Cameo account in 2021.^[15]

Gary Puckett married his first wife, Shirley Puckett, in 1979; they are now divorced. He married Lorrie Haimes on May 18, 2000.^[16] Gary has two stepdaughters from his wife's previous marriage. He currently lives inClearwater, Florida.^[17]

Since 1990, Puckett has been aborn-again Christian, after having followed the teachings ofMaharishi Mahesh Yogi for many years. While meditating in 1985, Puckett said he heard the Lord tell him there was a better path to follow.^[18]

• "Run Away" / "Would You Care" — 1965
• "I Can't Get Through To You" / "I Found Out About You" — 1966

Re-releases

† – Billed asThe Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett

‡ – Billed asGary Puckett & The Union Gap

• "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (US Billboard #61, US AC #14) / "All That Matters" – Columbia 45249 – October 1970
• "Keep the Customer Satisfied" (US Billboard #71, US AC #28) / "No One Really Knows" – Columbia 45303 – February 1971
• "Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs" (US AC #24) / "Shimmering Eyes" – Columbia 45358 – 1971
• "Gentle Woman" (US Record World #109) / "Hello Morning" – Columbia 45438 – 1971
• "I Can't Hold On" / "Hello Morning" – Columbia 45509 – 1971
• "Leavin' In The Morning" (US Record World #140) / "Bless This Child" – Columbia 45678 – 1972

• The Gary Puckett Album (1971)
• Melodie (1982)
• Love Me Tonight (1992)
• As It Stands (1995)
• Time Pieces (1996)
• Is This Love (1997)
• Europa (1998)
• At Christmas (2001)
• The Lost Tapes (2005)
• This Is Love (2006)

• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
• List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
• List of Columbia Records artists

• Official website
• Puckett atDiscogs