“Music to me is almost like therapy. Everyday is different from the songs you listen to, to the songs that you write, to the songs you pick that day. It’s all depending on your mood. It’s like the dictionary of life,” says country music singer Matt Gary.

Raised in Kansas City, Kansas, Matt says, “As a young kid, my mom always had me in singing groups. That’s where I got started. Music has always been a passion of mine and it never went away. The older I got the worse it got. I was really hungry to get into the music industry. Before I was even able to make that decision, I knew I wanted to do music for a living.”

“I’ve always loved country music. As a little kid that’s what I was attracted to. I like it because of the reality and the story the songs tell. I’ve always been drawn to it. In high school when I’d have a solo, I’d say, ‘I’m doing a country song.’ I remember riding in the car with my mom and she was listening to Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Lorrie Morgan, so as a young kid, I had that influence.”

“Right out of high school, I wanted to move to Nashville to focus on a music career and my parents were like, ‘Aah, we don’t think so. You need to go to college first.’ That’s when I decided to go down to Tampa to school. I figured it was going to be warm, and had the beach and I could play every once in a while. Sounded like a good place to go.”

“The first few years, I was so focused on my education, I didn’t get rid of the music thing, but I kind of put it behind me. I thought I was going to graduate and go join the corporate world. I majored in computer information systems and digital arts computer animation. It had nothing at all to do with music. I didn’t have to worry about what if this doesn’t work, I’ve got a fall back plan. I can go to Nashville, do what I love and just let everything fall where it falls. In my heart, music is what I knew I should be doing. It was just one of those things where it was haunting me. I started to fly up to Nashville to work with some songwriters and make some connections up here. I met a great producer and met some great people. I went back to Tampa, packed my bags and moved up here. "

Matt formed his own independent label, 17 Music Entertainment, and is putting the finishing touches on his first album. “I’m new to the song-writing thing; I picked it up in the past two or three years. One of the songs I wrote will be on the album; it’s called Sunday Afternoons. I wrote it after my grandfather passed away. He was a Christian and was always at church on Sunday and Wednesday. I would go to church with him and my grandmother. I wrote the song about living your life like everyday is Sunday afternoon because Sunday afternoon is a family day. That’s how I look at it. Every time I perform that song, the energy is like my grandfather is there. He was one of the biggest supporters of my music career. He always wanted me to sing. When I first wrote the song I didn’t have any idea where it was going or even if it was going to go anywhere or not. So, now, to know that it’s going to be on my album, I’m kind of carrying a piece of him with me through this journey.”

The laidback and easygoing Matt says he tries to live life to its fullest, “ You’ll hardly ever see me upset; I usually have a smile on my face. People have asked, ‘Are you ever upset?’ I have a bad day every once in a while, but for the most part, I’m easy going. I love being outside. I like trying new things and try to live each day as if it’s my last. Not every day is that easy, some days are tougher than others, but life is too short to be upset or let things hold you down. I just try to have a good time. I was the boy next door chasing dream, now I’m the guy next door still chasing a dream,” he says with a laugh.