Greg Shirley Music

Greg Shirley Bio

Guitarist for 54 years. Self taught just after 8th grade to get into the folk mass at church, in high school jammed with neighborhood garage band playing progressive jazz/rock like Jean Luc Ponty, Yes, Zappa, and others.

First band playing in public was a band where I played nylon, 12 string acoustics, and electric guitars and bass, along with one who played flute and bass and we both sang along with a conga/percussion player, called ourselves Us Two and Juan – a Trio.

After moving to Seattle area I was involved in a few new wave rock bands playing originals and covers and finally went back to my jazz roots when I hooked up with some players who introduced me to Miles and Coltrane and Monk and I dove deep into Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass and a few others. I played in a quartet for a while called the Offbeat Quartet on Upright Bass and formed my own quintet called the Greg Shirley Consortium playing guitar, both bands played around the Seattle area.

Just a month after moving to Big Island Hawaii I was playing Upright Bass in the Ollyphonics Big Band for a couple years, moved on to part of Joe Mackie’s rhythm section for a couple years. Also played as a duo on
7-string guitar accompanying vocalists and horn players all around town.

I have enjoyed playing as a soloist playing classical for weddings, instrumental songs in various genres, and accompanying myself singing jazz standards, pop, and country.
Over the years I’ve created and played in a variety of bands including Oldies Rock, Zydeco, Argentine Tango, Salsa, Jazz, and currently have a Country Band called HI Country, a Latin band called Sabroso, a Jazz ensemble called GS3, or GS4, or GS5, depending on how many in band, and a 7pc Swing band including 3 horns called Greg Shirley’s Big Swing.

For Every Occasion

Weddings

Greg’s soft guitar music is perfect for Weddings and Anniversary Parties.