Gary first played fiddle and mandolin, then later learned guitar.  He studied music in school for a short time focusing on the violin.  In the 50's Gary played in various bluegrass and country bands in the home area, often playing for Saturday night square dances.

Then, in the late 50's, because of the popularity of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins in the Arkansas/Tennessee area, Gary began playing electric guitar in a rock-and-roll band, and played that music along with some bluegrass during high school and college.

In the early 60's Gary moved to Kentucky for graduate school where he completed the PhD degree in animal nutrition and biochemistry and worked on the faculty at the University of Kentucky.  While in Kentucky, Gary played bluegrass music with friends at the University of Kentucky and traveled the state extensively.  He and his wife, Charlotte, frequently attended the famous Holiday Inn sessions in Lexington played by J.D.Crowe, Tony Rice, Doyle Lawson and other members of The New South.

Gary and his family moved to College Station, Texas, in the early '70's where he began a career on the faculty of Texas A&M University.  Gary developed the Equine Sciences Program in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M, and he led that internationally acclaimed program for 35 years, retiring in 2005.  Gary is a Registered Professional Animal Scientist and a Diplomate in the American College of Animal Nutrition.  He served as a licensed, professional horse show judge for over 30 years.  Gary now owns and manages an international consulting business, Potter Enterprises, and travels worldwide consulting with the horse industry and the feed industry on issues relating to selection, feeding, training and management of horses, particularly race horses.

For about 15 years, Gary didn't play music very much due to demands of his position at the University, and raising a young son, Bill Douglas.

Then, in the mid 80's Gary began playing bluegrass music again with Brazos Country Grass, this time focusing on the mandolin.

In addition to Brazos Country Grass, Gary has played and recorded with The Seiker Band, Cedar Creek and Cumberland Gap, regional bands in the Central Texas area, and with Bluegrass, Etc. a national/international band from the West Coast.

Even though Gary has played a variety of different kinds of music, he always comes back to his roots and favorite music--the hard driving, yet deeply-felt, bluegrass music brought to the forefront by Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

Gary likes to play and sing both traditional and contemporary bluegrass music.  Among his favorite, most influential artists are his friend and business acquaintance John Moore of Bluegrass, Etc. and California fame, and his friends Rolf and Beate Seiker of The Seiker Band.  John and Gary collaborate on educational programs for people in the horse industries in the U.S. and Europe, and they pick bluegrass for their audiences at horse camps and clinics too!  Gary enjoys playing with The Seiker Band at gigs around Austin and the Central Texas area.

Gary and Charlotte like to spend as much time as they can in Arkansas with their grandsons, Matthew and Daniel, who are talented musicians. Matthew plays bass and guitar, and sings in a band, BERCH, in Springfield, Missouri.  Daniel plays guitar and keyboard, and sings in a band, MORE THAN CONQUERORS, in Bentonville, Arkansas.  You can find both of their bands on Facebook.  So, the family tradition in music is continuing.

If you wish to email Gary Potter, click here:

Gary Potter.