DAVERNE Gary

Bio

Gary Davener (1939) grew up on Auckland’s North Shore, attending Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland University and Auckland Teacher’s Training College, graduating as a secondary school teacher in economics and accounting. He was Head of Commerce at a leading Auckland College, before joining the music industry full time, combining his commercial skills with his musical talent and becoming well respected as a musical arranger for television, writing for many of the ‘popular’ TV shows of the day. As a composer, Gary Daverne has composed music for symphony orchestras, brass and military bands, children’s songs and musicals, Māori Waiata, more than 500 television and radio advertising jingles, film soundtracks and many pop songs. Gary is New Zealand's most prolific composer and arranger of music for the accordion. His compositions and arrangements are published and performed regularly worldwide. In his early years, during the 60’s, Gary was a Rock ‘n’ Rolla, playing piano and saxophone in top rock bands. He also played clarinet and percussion in the youth orchestras, brass and dance bands and pit orchestras for the local amateur musical theatre productions. He became a very successful record producer during the early 60’s, achieving gold and platinum hit records on his own Viscount record label, which he still operates today.