Gary Dranow, born on March 10, 1954, in Santa Monica, California, has led a rich and diverse life, marked by achievements in sports, music, and entrepreneurship. His journey is a testament to his multifaceted talents and adaptability across various fields.
**Early Years and Athletic Pursuits:**
– Dranow’s athletic journey began with equestrian competitions from ages 9 to 13, after which he turned his focus to motocross. At 15, he went professional with Montessa Motors, winning two grand slams at Indian Dunes Park in 1971 and securing victories in the Open Seniors and the 500 Junior competitions in 1972
**Entrepreneurial Ventures:**
– In the mid to late 70s, Dranow founded Spoiled Brats of California, a garment manufacturing company, selling it in 1979. He continued in the apparel industry with Cutting Edge Junior Sportswear company in the mid to late 80s.
– Around 1993, he founded and served as the CEO of First Manhattan Funding (FMF, Inc.), a mortgage brokerage company, which he sold to Sawyer of Napa in 1998. He then created Cyborg Information Systems, developing and selling a fully automated mortgage process software.
**Skiing Career:**
– As a skier, Dranow became the highest-scoring associate certified ski instructor in 1973, coaching at Snow Summit for the 1973-74 season. He received his first USSA Alpine Coach’s certification in 1981. His racing career included USSA Masters and NASTAR National qualifications, with notable achievements from 1987 to 1990 and a return to NASTAR and Masters in the 2001-2002 season. He ranked number one in his age group nationally and in the top twenty men overall in NASTAR from 2005 to 2010. In 2003, he founded Modern Ski Racing, an academy focused on coaching recreational racers for NASTAR Citizen Ski Racing, running it until 2010.
**Music Career:**
– Dranow’s music journey began at age 12 with his first band, The New Invaderz. He released his first album “Destiny Road, Rough Cuts” in 2003. The album “Destiny Road,” written in 1997, was fully released in May 2023, featuring songs about his experiences with Bipolar 1 Disorder.
– Collaborating with Klim Apalkov from Ukraine and Chris Zoupa from Melbourne, Australia, Dranow worked on various projects, including the “Never Give Up” album and a remix of “Destiny Road.” His single “The Cry of War,” released in September 2023, is a powerful rock anthem inspired by the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Dranow also ventured into EDM with the Astralix project, releasing songs like “Lost and Found” and “The Rhythm Fills My Soul.”
– By the time of the sources, Gary had approximately 35,000 followers on Spotify
Gary Dranow’s life story exemplifies a remarkable blend of dedication, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. From his early days in sports to his ventures in business and his creative expressions in music, his journey is an inspiring narrative of continuous growth and versatility.
Where are you based?
Park City, UT.
How long have you been making music?
60 Years
What genre would you consider your music to be?
Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Americana, Metal, Trip Hop, Country/Folk
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
Cream’s Crossroads, 1967
What are your biggest musical influences?
Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Oingo Boingo (Danny Elfman)
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
Indie
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
Getting a million streams
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
One Album, Four EPs, 50 plus songs
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
I am realising three EPs for my upcoming Never Give Up double album (40 songs), with 5 songs each. Never Give Up EP Vol. One, Two, and Three. These will be avaiable as downloads, CDs, and Stratocaster shaped USB Keys
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
I plan on touring staring the last quarter of 2024 into early 2025
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