Gary Stanionis is quickly making a name for himself around southern CA as a drummer and percussionist.
Most recently Big Dog has been on tour with jaciem Joyner. Jaciem's debut album "Baby Soul" road the Top 10 Billboard Charts for 5 weeks and Jaciem has been nominated for "Best New Jazz Artist of the Year 2007.
He has been involved in every aspect of the music biz' including: Live performances, studio recordings, composition, arranging, transciption, music copying and music education. As a percussionist Big Dog has perfomed with such artist as: Brazilian Legends Flora Purim and Airto Moreira, Smotth Jazz Giant Jackiem Joyner, David Garfield, World Renowned Percussionist C.G. Ryche, Luis Conte, Ralph Humphrey, Emilio Castillo, smooth jazz greats Pro2Call, S4G and many more.
His "rock solid time" and funky soulful pocket has allowed him to perform with some of the most legendary and in demand artist of our time including live performances with: Tata Vega, Walfredo Reyes Sr. Walfredo Reyes Jr. and Danny Reyes. He is a regular artist @ all the T.R.A.P. benifits performing with C.G. Ryche and the Bubulubu Heads Percussion Ensemble. Gary has also performed with the Samba Pimps featuring C.G Ryche, Chalo Edwardo and Jorge Burmudez other performances with David Garfield, Russ Miller, Brazilian legends Flora Purim & Airto Moreira. He has performed clinics for Drummers for Jesus with his band Elements along with Will Kennedy, Teddy Campbell and Larry Washington.
Gary is the house drummer/percussionist for "The Element" studio with famed producer/engineer Lew Laing. Gary & Lew are currently working on a project together with the band "Elements". Gary has recorded tracks on both of C.G. Ryches highly acclaimed cd's "X" and "Echos of Silence" and CG'sLive DVD performance of "Echoes of Silence" released Sept. 07'. He has scored an award winning documentary called "The machines of Sex and Death" and has done extensive studio work for Visa and many other artist and albums. He is the founder of "Elemental Entertainment" providing entertainment for corporate events and private functions. On top of all of this he finds time to teach over 35 students @ Hi Line music and play for Abundant Living Family Church,a mega church in Rancho Cucamonga with well over 8,000 attendies.
Big Dog endorses Ludwig Drums, Bosphorus cymbals,Remo Drum Heads, Rhythm Tech Percussion, Vic Firth DrumSticks, Groove Juice and Phat Foot drum harness.
Gary has been busy. His most fulfilling and important job of all is being a husband to his Gorgeous wife Johanna and a father to his two beautiful children Hannah and Josiah.
