Gary Karr

Biography

Double bassist Gary Karr was one of the greatest players of his instrument in the 20th century, or really of any other time. He was a pioneer in commissioning new virtuoso works for the instrument. Karr had a substantial recording catalog that continued to grow after his retirement, as earlier items were reissued. Many of his early recordings were collected on the 2010 album Gary Karr: Bass Virtuoso. He established his own Karr Kamps in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, where he lived in later life. He died there on July 16, 2025.