Gary Hoey is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter born September 29, 1961 in Manchester, New Hampshire, who built his reputation through a combination of hard rock guitar virtuosity, a successful early career moment that brought him national attention, and decades of relentless recording and touring that have made him one of the hardest-working guitarists on the American rock circuit. Hoey developed his guitar style drawing from the twin influences of hard rock virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen and the blues tradition, and his playing combines technical facility with genuine feel and melodic sensibility.
Hoey gained his first major national exposure when his guitar instrumental Hocus Pocus — a cover of the classic Focus track — was featured in the 1993 film Surfing for Life and received significant airplay, introducing him to a mainstream rock audience. Animal Instinct (1993) on Reprise Records capitalized on that exposure and established him as a credible hard rock guitarist capable of both instrumental showmanship and song-based writing. His Christmas instrumental albums, beginning with Ho! Ho! Hoey (1995), became an unexpected seasonal staple on rock radio and introduced him to audiences far beyond his core hard rock fanbase — the series has sold hundreds of thousands of copies and spawned multiple sequels.
Hoey has released over twenty albums across his career, maintaining a prolific output that spans hard rock, blues rock, and instrumental guitar music. He has toured with acts including Vai, Satriani, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd and has participated in multiple G3-style guitar showcase events. His presence on the summer festival and casino circuit has been a consistent fixture for decades, and his work ethic and direct engagement with his fanbase through social media and independent releases has allowed him to sustain a career in rock music without major label support for much of his career.
