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Gary Burke – A tribute
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This text was posted by Graham Maby on 18 January 2026 on Facebook.
Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone...
Gary Burke,
photographer: unknown
I regret having to accept the fact that my dear old friend Gary Burke has left us after several years of declining health.
Forty-two years ago he walked into a midtown rehearsal room and nailed his audition for Joe Jackson. For decades after,
we recorded and toured together with Joe and others. When I relocated to NJ in 1985, Gary as player/producer brought me
in to play on many smaller projects, which with him at the helm were always a joy. Gary was a gentle soul, and I can
scarcely remember seeing him cranky, let alone angry. You always knew where you stood with Gary. He wouldn't play mind
games. Couldn't.
Gary taught me so much. There was always so much air between the beats when he was on drums. That's rare. Inclined to be
busy myself, I learned from Gary the value of space, not to fear it, to let it sit, let it be. Very Zen, he was truly the
Buddha of the Backbeat.
As for me, I'm still working on that space thing.
When he told me he'd done the Rolling Thunder Revue with Dylan in the 70s, I was beyond impressed. Gary had a rich and
varied resumé, but if you've worked with Bob you can leave pretty much anyone else off the list.
At a funeral, no one's inclined to say much of anything negative about you. With Gary, it will be hard to think of even one
negative thing. But the positives: sensitive, kind, thoughtful, honest, a gentleman, loving to his family, solid, consistent,
and dependable. And on top of all that, his prodigious musical talent.
Thank you, GB, for being my friend, for all the music we made together, for all you taught me.
Enjoy the space.
On tour with Graham Parker in 1992; left to right: Gary Burke, Joel Diamond,
Graham Maby (holding his daughter), Jamie Hoover – Photo: Mary Beth Maby
Back to Band members: Gary Burke
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Copyright © 2026 Graham Maby. Reproduced by permission.