Eric Gale

Orbit | Updated: February 16, 2026

Born: September 20, 1938 | Died: May 25, 1994

Welcome to Eric Gale's official page,

I would like to take this opportunity to address an important issue. Unfortunately, there are individuals who are hijacking the original, Eric Gale name, Wikipedia page and net worth sites, posting false information about him, and fraudulently using his platform to promote their own "artistry." Please be advised that this is the only official site where you can find accurate and true information about New York's finest, Eric Gale.

Born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York to an American mother and British father. Eric grew up in a time when interracial marriages were not widely accepted; however, growing up his father always ensured his family's safety. Eric grew up around his father's friends who were Sicilian and was baptised and raised Catholic. Eric's mother was Christian, born and raised in Alabama.She and her family migrated to Brooklyn in the early 1900's. He had two younger brothers, who were a decade younger than him. Eric's childhood included holidays spent visiting family in the UK, giving him a unique perspective on the world. Fluent in Spanish and German, Eric had a diverse linguistic background.

Eric began playing guitar at the age of 12 and attended private all-boys Catholic boarding schools, where his exceptional skill in math allowed him to skip junior high school. During high school, he frequently visited John Coltrane's home after school to participate in jam sessions, which greatly influenced his distinctive musical style. Eric fondly recalled how John Coltrane's wife would provide after-school snacks, which he appreciated. Gale started out with Jazz Bass which was his first love, but because it was too heavy to transpot onto othe NYC subways he opted for a guitar. He also played the violin really well, and loved classical music with a passion.

After receiving his Masters in chemistry from Niagara University, he taught at Penn State University and was hired by Visine. Eric shared dormitory life with the late Mario Cuomo Senior, and together they were known as the school pranksters. Eric also played football and enjoyed competing against other private universities. Despite his academic achievements, Eric made a pivotal decision to pursue a full-time music career instead of pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemistry, a choice that initially disappointed his mother.

In the late 60's, Van Morrison recorded "Brown Eyed Girl" (video below), which was originally titled "Brown Skinned Girl". You can hear Eric's catchy rifts in the session, but the radio stations requested the title be changed to "Brown Eyed Girl", as the original was considered too conservational for the times.

Roberta Flack: The Montreux Years

Read "The Montreux Years" reviewed by Thomas Fletcher

by Thomas Fletcher
June 28, 2026

With a voice of remarkable nuance and power, Roberta Flack emerged as one of the defining artists of the early 1970s. Drawing on her classical training as a pianist and vocalist, Flack crafted a deeply expressive style that moved seamlessly between soul, jazz, pop and folk. Spanning nearly four decades, this live album chronicles Flack's journey at the festival, from her 1971 debut to her final appearance in 2008. The album is 2026's addition to The Montreux Years ...

Liner Notes

Hank Crawford: Help Me Make It Through The Night

by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
July 17, 2025

One of the first artists signed by Creed Taylor for CTI's subsidiary Kudu label, Hank Crawford suffered violent criticism during the period (1971-1978) he recorded for the label, being accused of making mellow and commercial albums. On the other hand, Hank achieved a new level of popularity during his CTI/Kudu years. Some of the eight albums he cut for the label sold over 100,000 copies with almost no promotion. And his Kudu debut, Help Me Make It Through The Night, ...

106

Liner Notes

Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Wild Horses Rock Steady

by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
November 3, 2024

Born John Robert Smith on December 16, 1933 (in Louisville, KY), formerly known as Johnny Hammond Smith, and later as Johnnny Hammond, one of the all-time best jazz organists passed away on June 4, 1997, in Chicago, Illinois. For some of his early fans, some of the best albums he recorded were done for Prestige in the Sixties. A younger generation, who grew up listening to the hip-hop influenced jazz sounds of the 1990s, prefers Johnny's over-produced sessions for Milestone ...

Liner Notes

Eric Gale: Forecast

by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
October 13, 2024

Eric Gale (born on September 20, 1938, of Barbadian parents, in Brooklyn, NY) recorded over 500 albums as sideman, backing such stars as Aretha Franklin, King Curtis, Dianna Ross, Paul Simon, Lena Horne, Michel Legrand, Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Joe Cocker, Carly Simon, Van Morrison, Milton Nascimento, Billy Joel, Gato Barbieri and Mongo Santamaria, to name a few. Gale's association with Creed Taylor began when the celebrated producer was working at Verve Records. ...

Liner Notes

Ron Carter: Anything Goes

by Arnaldo DeSouteiro
July 11, 2024

Ronald Levin Carter (born Ferndale, Michigan, on May 4, 1937) needs no introduction. Let's just say that he is the bassist's bassist. On Ron's hands, the bass and the man become the same entity, the same person. Played by Ron Carter, the acoustic bass sounds like... Ron Carter! That's why he is one of the three top bassists in the music history. However, if Ron needs no introduction, his Anything Goes album does. Recorded on June & July, ...

Extended Analysis

Winelight

by Jeff Winbush
April 23, 2015

When Grover Washington, Jr. passed away in 1999 the jazz world lost one of its most successful and talented creators, and in his wake a slew of saxophonists have stepped up to fill the void. None have. Philadelphia jazz deejay Bob Perkins said, of Washington, a native of the City of Brotherly Love, “He was the originator of smooth jazz, and all the rest--Najee, Kenny G--followed him."It is absolutely true that Washington was, along with George Benson, one ...

119

Album Review

Johnny Hammond: Breakout

Read "Breakout" reviewed by Jim Santella

by Jim Santella
April 12, 2002

The CTI jazz catalog holds many surprises. This one features a strong 8-piece band led by organist Johnny Hammond (1933-1997), who was known earlier as Johnny “Hammond" Smith. Recorded in 1971, the album emphasized swinging mood music with a flair for popular sounds. It marked a turning point in the career of Grover Washington, Jr. He, Hank Crawford and Eric Gale are all over the place, alongside Hammond's B-3. It’s a party. A previously unissued track, recorded shortly after the ...

Artists who share similar musical characteristics to Eric Gale.