BENICIA, Calif. — Garry Stevens passed away Dec. 8, 2009, at the age of 93.

Born in Eagle Rock, Calif., Garry began his professional career as a musician in 1935. He started as a trumpet player and vocalist becoming an integral part of the “Big Band Era” including singing with Charlie Spivak, the Army Air Corps Band and the Glenn Miller—Tex Beneke Orchestra through the years 1940-48. He recorded many songs, some of which were in the top 40 in the nation such as “Beyond The Sea,” “My Devotion,” “At Last,” “White Christmas,” “I’ll Remember April” and others.

Off the road he settled in Albany, N.Y. He pioneered in television and radio from 1950 to 1959. He worked in radio as a DJ on WROW and in 1950 joined WRGB in Schenectady, N.Y., with an evening variety television show called “Television Showcase” with his band “The After Six Seven”. After the show was cancelled in 1959, he spent five years in the moving industry and then had a successful venture into real estate from 1964 to 1998.

Garry spent 50 years in the Albany/Schenectady area of New York, moving to Benicia, Calif., in 1998

Music remained his avocation through the years. In 1998 he and his second wife, Judy, moved to Benicia and there he discovered a “twilight career” into his 90s as a band singer, working with local bands including the Benicia High School band. Garry also was the highlight of the Glenn Miller festival in Clarinda, Iowa, for seven years and “the oldest boy singer” continued to perform there until his late 80s. In 2003 he was inducted into the Big Band Academy Hall of Fame in Studio City, Calif. An exhibit of his musical life is in the Glenn Miller Archive at University of Colorado in Boulder..

He is loved and remembered by Judy M. Stevens, his devoted wife of 35 years; his three daughters: Karyn Hanson of Denver, Colo., Melissa Thompson of Peterborough and Amanda Noble of Denver; five grandchildren: Jenna Noble, Michael Noble, Conor Thompson, Dylan Thompson and Ryder Thompson.

There will be no memorial service and his ashes will be scattered at sea.

Donations can be made to the Garry Stevens Memorial Fund, c/o Melissa Thompson, 59 Pine St., Peterborough 03458. Proceeds will support a scholarship for a student who desires to major in music.