Gary Perkins Country Singer Born  15th  July 1962  Rotherham Hospital, now living at North Anston, nr Sheffield.

School:  Junior school on many occasions I would play harmonica in morning assembly’s.  I would perform tunes like ‘Popeye the sailor man’ and ‘Oh   when the Saints go marching in’, at eight years old I taught myself to play guitar, unfortunately I learned to play it out of tune.                                                                                 

Dinnington Comprehensive:  1973, left 1978, At twelve years old I learned to play the guitar in tune,   I played rugby at county level and represented South Yorkshire in the Triple jump and my personal best for the 100 metres was 10.9 seconds. ‘How about that then’. 

College:  Rotherham College of technology 1978 till 1982, I Did a four year apprenticeship in structural development and  plate fabrication, my favourite subject was technical drawing, ‘I should have become draftsman’,   During dinner breaks  I would practise my guitar and learn songs.

First gig:  1980 just 18 years old I was invited by Harry Quinton to sing three songs at one of his shows at the Ivanhoe Hotel in Thurcroft, a South Yorkshire pit village, the  venue was packed with people, Harry introduced me on stage and I remember feeling absolutely scared stiff, feeling nervous was an understatement, but at the same time I had an immense feeling of excitement After my performance I was offered my first paid gig to perform at the local C.B clubs monthly meeting at the Ivanhoe ,  I was paid  £5 per gig.

Pro:  1991 was the turning point of my career, I was finding it very difficult to hold down a full time job in construction and perform my country music shows during the evening, so I decided to follow my dream and I became a professional entertainer.

I joined equity and musicians union and got myself small walk on parts on TV programs including: ‘Making Out’ staring Margi Clark and Brian Hibbard, lead singer in the Flying Pickets, I played the part of a Drunk staggering through a beer garden, it was a great experience and great fun, I also appeared many times on ITV program ‘Peak practice’ I was always a doctor standing in the back ground with stethoscope in hand talking to the nurses ... ha ha.

Son born July 1992 my first son ‘Thomas’ was born and in September 1994 my second son Jack was born, my wife Janice went back to teaching at our local school and I became a full time child minder during the day and I sang in the pubs and clubs during the evenings.                 

Band:  1995 was a very busy year, still looking after kids during the day and working evenings solo and duo with bass player Johnny Keep from Worksop   I joined up with Buxton based band ‘The Breeze’, our rehearsals at Steve’s house down in the cellar were something to look forward to and this was the beginning of a very exciting new venture.                                                                                                                 My dad ‘Harry’ and I wrote a ten track all self penned album called ‘Ride The Wind’.

Shetland    1997 we won our first band of the year award at the Shetland Islands Country Music Club, Performing at this venue was such a great experience, we would perform Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night and every night the Shetlanders would throw a party, it was sheer pleasurable torture.     

Charts:  1998   Our self - penned song  ‘Ride the wind’ reached number four in the European Country Music charts, and I also reached number six in the French Country music charts with my self- penned song ‘Love me like I love you’.  

Street:  1999    I took a slight change in my career and to everyone’s amazement I became a full time Street Entertainer, performing my music in different Towns and Cities around the country, purely relying on my Cd sales to make my living, this change in career enabled me to spend more precious time with my two children Tom & Jack and to this day although my theatre and Festival work is very successful, I still perform my Country Music Show on the street.

Award: September 2008 at the British country music awards I was voted Best British Male Solo Artist and in 2009 myself and the Breeze were voted best British country band.

Breeze:  Due to band members other work and family commitments we remain a very part time band, only performing a couple of shows per month, we are all best of mates on and off stage and we all look forward to getting together and performing our unique  style of country music to our audience.                                                           

Gary Perkins  -  lead singer & acoustic guitar                 Andy Mottram  -  Lead Guitar                                                                                                    

Johnny Keep  -  Bass Guitar                                            Steve Morris  -  Keys                                        

Rosie Haywood  -  Drums.

 To Book Gary Perkins (SOLO) or with the (BREEZE)  please call:                                      

Gary   01909 561125   or email    garyperkinsmusic’hotmail.co.uk