Gary was considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extaordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of three octaves.
Gary was a stylized singer, who recorded 23 albums for RCA Victor Records. His singing ranged from robust baritone to a high sweet tenor often in the same song. Most popular songs of their time - suited to his intimate style - and they were among his recordings. Read Full BioJohn Gary (1932 - 1998) was a popular and technically accomplished vocalist.
Gary was considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extaordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of three octaves.
Gary was a stylized singer, who recorded 23 albums for RCA Victor Records. His singing ranged from robust baritone to a high sweet tenor often in the same song. Most popular songs of their time - suited to his intimate style - and they were among his recordings.
Gary sang in movies, on Broadway, had his own television show, and appeared at Carnegie Hall, with numerous symphonies. He appeared 30 times as a guest on the The Tonight Show with Jack Parr, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He traveled across the U.S. and Canada with approximately 40 concerts per year. For six years he gave Community concerts in over 400 cities and towns.
Considered handsome, personable, and very talented, Gary never quite became a household name. Possibly because his wide range was difficult for fans to sing along to; also his career peaked at the same time as the Beatles, whose unique popularity displaced the works of many artists of the time.
Gary was sometimes called the singer's singer because only another singer could fully appreciate what he was able to do with his voice. Most crooners were able to sing sweetly within a limited range, but Gary was able to carry what is known as a mezza voce up to beyond the staff. What often sounded like falsetto was almost always a legitimate tone.
One of his other talents was his seemingly endless supply of breath (no doubt aided by the fact Gary held several underwater swimming records). In addition to his impeccable phrasing, he artfully shaded words to convey the emotional content of the song. He was a crossover artist before the term was invented, and his 400 community concerts brought pop music to the concert stage. In 1960 he joined ASCAP and composed several popular songs. RCA has reissued some of his recordings and classy 92 track box is now available on the Collectables label.
Tenderly
John Gary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
The trembling trees, embraced the breeze, tenderly
Then you, and I, came wandering by
And lost in a, sigh were we
The shore, was kissed, by sea and mist, tenderly
I can't forget, how two hearts met, breathlessly
Your arms, opened wide, and closed me, inside
You took, my lips, you took, my love, so tenderly
The shore, was kissed, by sea and mist, tenderly
I can't forget, how two hearts met, breathlessly
Your arms, opened wide, and closed me, inside
You took, my lips, you took, my love, so tender-ly
Overall Meaning
The lyrics of John Gary's "Tenderly" convey the sense of a tender and passionate love affair that takes place in a serene and enchanting natural setting. The lines "The evening breeze caressed the trees tenderly, The trembling trees embraced the breeze tenderly" set the tone for the romantic mood that follows. The forest is a metaphor for the couple's intimacy, and the breeze represents their ardour that stirs the trees into motion. They are lost in a sigh, as they are overwhelmed by the beauty of their surroundings and their love for each other.
The second verse continues the imagery of the natural world as a reflection of the lovers' experience. The shore is kissed by sea and mist tenderly, which mirrors the couple's embrace. The two hearts meeting breathlessly alludes to the intensity of their passion. The third line, "Your arms opened wide and closed me inside", references the couple's physical intimacy. Finally, "You took my lips, You took my love, so tenderly" heightens the romanticism of the song by equating the lovers' physical interaction with tenderness.
Overall, "Tenderly" is a beautiful and passionate love song that uses nature as a backdrop for a couple's intimacy. The lyrics evoke feelings of tenderness, passion, and love, and the imagery of the forest and the sea add to the romantic atmosphere.
Interesting Facts:
- "Tenderly" was written by Walter Gross in 1946 and became a standard jazz tune. Over the years, it has been covered by many artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Billie Holiday.
- John Gary's version of "Tenderly" was released in 1964 and became one of his signature songs. It features Gary's smooth and polished vocals, which added a new dimension to the already well-known tune.
- Gary was primarily known as a pop singer and was often compared to established artists like Andy Williams, but he had a versatile range of musical styles that also included classical and country.
- Gary performed on many TV shows throughout his career, including "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show." He was a popular guest on talk shows like "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and "The Merv Griffin Show."
- Gary was known for his operatic vocal style, which he showcased on various albums like "John Gary Sings Russian Folk Songs" and "So Tenderly."
- Despite his success as a recording artist, Gary had a brief career in acting and appeared in several TV dramas like "The Virginian" and "Hawaii Five-O."
- "Tenderly" was used in the soundtrack for the 2011 movie "The Help," a period drama set in the 1960s about African-American maids working in white homes in Mississippi.
- The song has been mentioned or referenced in various TV shows, movies, and books throughout the years, such as "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Sopranos," and "The Nanny Diaries."
- The chord progression for "Tenderly" is relatively simple, consisting mainly of major and minor seventh chords. The instrumentation varies depending on the version but typically includes piano, bass, drums, and strings.
- In 1998, the Grammy Hall of Fame inducted John Gary's version of "Tenderly" as a timeless recording that has had an impact on music history.
Chords (Key of E-flat):
Verse 1:
Eb Eb6 Ebmaj7
The evening breeze caressed the trees, tenderly
Abmaj7 Ab7 Db
The trembling trees embraced the breeze, tenderly
Gm7 C7 Fm Ddim Abmaj7
Then you and I came wandering by and lost in a sigh were we
Verse 2:
Eb Eb6 Ebmaj7
The shore was kissed by sea and mist, tenderly
Abmaj7 Ab7 Db
I can't forget how two hearts met, breathlessly
Gm7 C7 Fm Ddim Abmaj7
Your arms opened wide and closed me inside, you took my lips
Ab7 Bbm7 Ebmaj7
You took my love, so tenderly.
Line by Line Meaning
The evening, breeze, caressed the, trees, tenderly
The gentle night wind lovingly touched the leaves of the trees
The trembling trees, embraced the breeze, tenderly
The trees, quivering in pleasure, held the breeze close to them with tender care
Then you, and I, came wandering by
At that moment, you and I aimlessly wandered by
And lost in a, sigh were we
Overwhelmed with emotion, we became entranced
The shore, was kissed, by sea and mist, tenderly
The shoreline was lovingly touched by the gentle sea waves and mist
I can't forget, how two hearts met, breathlessly
I am unable to forget the breathtaking moment our two hearts found each other
Your arms, opened wide, and closed me, inside
Your arms spread wide, enveloping me in a warm embrace
You took, my lips, you took, my love, so tenderly
With the utmost care and love, you kissed my lips and captured my heart
The shore, was kissed, by sea and mist, tenderly
The shoreline continued to be caressed tenderly by the sea waves and mist
I can't forget, how two hearts met, breathlessly
The memory of the moment our two hearts met still takes my breath away
Your arms, opened wide, and closed me, inside
Once again, your arms opened up wide to hold me close
You took, my lips, you took, my love, so tender-ly
And again, you took hold of my lips and my love with utmost tenderness
Writer(s): Lawrence Jack, Gross Walter
Contributed by Sophie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.