Gary Zellerbach is an in-demand Northern California guitarist and proud fifth generation native San Franciscan. He received his first guitar on his 13th birthday and has been playing ever since. While in high school, Gary studied jazz guitar with noted local instructor Dave Smith and played in numerous blues and rock bands around San Francisco.

During college days in the Boston area, Gary continued his jazz guitar studies with Andy Caponigro and famed jazz guitarist and educator Mick Goodrick. Gary had some great musicians as classmates, including pianist George Kahn and bassist/music editor Carl Sealove. With local musicians, Gary formed a progressive jazz-fusion group called Spectrum, managed by Ted Kurland (who went on to become the top talent agent in all of jazz!). Spectrum played around the Northeast, including opening concerts and club dates for Gary Burton and Keith Jarrett.

Meanwhile, Gary's childhood friend and high school band mate, pianist George Michalski, moved to Hollywood and eventually lured Gary (and a number of his college friends) to Los Angeles. While there, Gary played popular music (mostly rock and R&B) to survive, while continuing to study jazz as much as possible. He played in the advanced jazz band at Dick Grove School of Music and took seminars with many top LA session players, such as Joe Diorio and Tommy Tedesco. A particular highlight was attending a three day guitar workshop with Pat Martino at the Guitar Institute of Technology (now the Musicians Institute).  

One of Gary's first LA gigs was lead guitarist for Marvin Gaye's younger brother Frankie Gaye. After that, he appeared on American Bandstand and toured the US with singer/song-writer Parker McGee, opening up large concert venues for performers such as Dolly Parton and Billy Joel. Returning to LA, Gary reunited with old buddies Michalski and Sealove to form the classic rock band Michalski & Oosterveen ("M&O"), which was "discovered" by movie producer (and Barbara Streisand's boyfriend at the time) Jon Peters. Peters immediately signed the band to a two album deal with Columbia Records and had them perform the song "Burn" on the movie Eyes of Laura Mars. (Through this connection, they had the great fortune to meet and record with Streisand, and she went on to record several of Michalski's songs, including the title track for The Main Event and the tune A Man I Loved.)

Unfortunately, as with many Hollywood tales, things didn't end well for M&O (it's a long story -- it's even mentioned in a book), and Gary moved back to San Francisco, putting his musical career on hold.

In 1979, Gary founded the Holos Gallery, the first hologram gallery in the Western United States and soon-to-become one of the world's largest hologram distributors. 

After a successful run in the hologram business, Gary worked in Silicon Valley many years for a large computer manufacturer, leaving when the company was bought. He turned his full attention back to playing music!

Gary performs and records regularly around the Bay Area with musicians including Al Lazard, Gerald Beckett, Steve McQuarry, Michael Gold, Scott Silverberg and The Westside Jazz Club, and vocalists Laura Wiley and many more. Some of the places played include premier jazz venues such as Yoshi's San Francisco, the SFJAZZ Center, the Fillmore Jazz Festival, People in Plazas, Club Deluxe, and dozens more clubs, concerts, and private events.

During Covid, Gary started and continues to lead the Wine Time Jazz ensemble, focusing on private events in San Francisco, Sonoma, Napa, and throughout the region. Featuring a roster of top musicians, we're available for any type of musical engagement.

Discography

2017

"Oblivion " 
Gerald Beckett
Summit Records

2014

"Blackbird"
Beth Marlin and Friends
Bambaker Records

"The Messenger" 
Gerald Beckett
Summit Records

2012

"Standard Flute"
Gerald Beckett
Summit Records

"Close Your Eyes"
The Laura Wiley Quartet

1979

"M&O" 
Michalski & Oosterveen
Columbia Records
(Under the stage name of "Gary Allen")

1978

"Eyes of Laura Mars" Original Soundtrack
Columbia Records
(Under the stage name of "Gary Allen")