Gary „Detroit“ Wiggins

english – german/french/italien see bottom of this page

born and raised in Detroit, Michigan is having a long and successful career as a saxophonist.He is known for his soft tone and his very own soulful warm, energetic and recognizable Style to blow his Lupifaro Platinum Saxophone, hand made in Italy.

Gary crossed the globe bringing with him his personal sound and influence to the music of his culture. During a quarter century residing in Europe he has perform countless music festivals, jazz and blues clubs, many private events, television, radio, cinematic film, theater, and public speaking.

He had his first Saxophone at the age of 10, when he started playing ath the at the local Zion Congressional Church of God in Christ at Pastor Winans, head of the “Winans Family”. At the age of 14 years he was member of the Bobo Jenkins Blues Band…. Meanwhile he reached a legendary status, called „The God of Blues“, Paradiese-Bird by the press… Other famous musicians such as Till Brönner or Tommy Schneller refer to Gary as their inspiration and mentor!

Gary Wiggins made his first recorded release on 45rpm

at the age of 17 with his band the Impacs. The Impacs were a backing band for several of the Detroit, Michigan R&B vocal groups. After touring with The Dramatics and performing in such places as the Apollo in Harlem, the T.P. Warner Theater in Washington D.C. and tours through Panama, and the eastern coast of North America, Wiggins headed west and camped in California for five years. During this time he performed with musicians such as Eddie „Cleanhead“ Vinson, Johnny Heartsman, Roy Brown, Big Mama Thorton, and many other musicians on the West Coast music scene. His second Release was with Jimmy Scott „A pair and a spare“ 1973.

1982 Gary spent a year on the Chicago blues scene where he played in the bands of the late Lefty Dizz, the late Sunnyland Slim, the late Johnny Littlejohn, Sugar Blue, Robert Covington, and also Christian Rannenberg, with whom he co-founded the International Blues Duo (IBD).

He was a regular performer in The Kingston Mines, B.L.U.E.S., and The Playboy Club (headquarters). Since moving to Europe in 1983 and in addition to producing several music concerts for Jazz Clubs and Festivals, he has also toured with the late Arnett Cobb, the late Screaming Jay Hawkins, the late Johnny Copeland, Big Jay McNeely (Legendary Saxomania Tours) , Angela Brown, the late Jeanne Carroll, the late Johnny Heartsman, Ingrid Arthur (The Weather Girls), Katie Webster, Louisiana Red and Carey Bell, he was on stage with Scott Hamilton, joined the Ray Charles Show 2 times…

Gary plays in the legendary A-Trane Berlin since more than 20 years and has performed with Stars like Angela Brown, Francisca Urio, Jeanne Caroll, Till Brönner, Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, The Latonious, Bryan Berry, Didier Dorise, Sydney Ellis, Dorrey Lyles, Nina Hill, Ingrid Arthur, Frederik Tuxx, the great legendary Guitar Crusher and many great singers and musicians that is a list to long to name here. Countless Gigs since more than 20 years at the Yorkschloesschen and Badenscher Hof Jazz Club where you find pictures of Gary all over the place…

He and his Band played Tributes to Michael Jackson, Grover Washington, Stevie Wonder and James Brown.

The International Blues Duo produced and released three albums and Wiggins also recorded with Johnny Heartsman, Bobby McFerrin, Angela Brown, Eb Davis, Klaus Lage, Roy Gaines, and live recordings with Big Jay McNeely plus three compact disc recordings under the Detroit Gary Wiggins Group. Gary has been published on several Compilations with John Lee Hooker or Louisiana Red…

In 2001 he was awarded the prestigious Berlin Jazz and Blues Award.

Gary Wiggins is an advisor on the advisory board of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy located in Berlin und New York, as well as program director of music as cultural diplomacy, bandleader and founding member of The Very Soulful Tenors Show with Fuasi Abdul Khaliq and Ray Blue.

Gary was invited (2008) to Harvard-University to speak about Blues and Jazz in Europe, mainly his own history.

He brought to Paris the show, Saxman And The Divas, performing a five-week engagement at the Quai du Blues with Angela Brown, Queen Yahna, Jeanne Carroll, and several others. Since this time, Detroit Gary Wiggins has become a popular headliner in famous Parisian nightspots such as Caveaux de la Huchette to the legendary jazz clubs of St. Germaine des Pres.

Gary Wiggins and his tenor sax has swung around the world playing a three-month engagement in Tokyo, concerts in Paris, Italy, Panama, concert dates in Switzerland, Bulgaria, Russia, Hawaii, Amsterdam, Denmark, England, Greece, San Francisco, Chicago, Sacramento, New York, Detroit, and all over France and Germany.

His latest project was „The soul of Blues and Jazz“ with Katarina Holmberg and Gina Dunn… more projects coming soon at the world famous and Echo-awarded A-Trane Jazz Club, Berlin

Other longtime great Band Members in Berlin: Reggie Moore (piano), Daryl Taylor (bass), Lenjes Robinson (drums), Eddie Dejean (drums), Max Bahr (g), Chris Keys (keys, organ), Mike Russell (guitar) and many more…

In Paris: Serge Rahoerson (piano), Brahim Haiouani (bass), Didier Dorise (drums).

Recordings: (Click here to open Discography-Gallery)

With Christian Rannenberg: Introducing The International Blues Duo To The World (1984);

The International Blues Duo Meets Blues Wire: Truly International (1987)

With Christian Rannenberg: Vol. I

The International Blues Duo-Featuring Katie Webster (1989)

Time For Saxin‘ (1993)

Acoustic Soul (1992)

I Got Up (1996)

„zeitlos“ (2005)

„Saxin‘ the Blues“, (2011)

„Ballads in a Diplomatic Lounge“ (2004)

Gary Wiggins and the Bam Jam Band „Dance Masters“

Bobby Mc Ferrin feat. Detroit Gary Wiggins: „Bobby’s Thing“ & „Lady Fair“ (1988)

Fabrice Eulry & Detroit Gary Wiggins „Paris Jook“ (1996)

Detroit Gary Wiggins & C.C. the Boogieman: „Accoustic Soul“ (1996)

Also on many Compilatons about Jazz and Blues. Like „True Blues“, „The Blues you can’t refuse“, „The Ultimate Bues Collection“, „Hot Blues“, „The Best of Groove Note Blues“, „A Celebration of Blues“, „Clubdance Jazz Berlin“ or „Ok in Rock“ …. from Germany, France, Greece, USA , Italy or even Litauen… with Artists like John Lee Hooker, Katie Webster, Lousiana Red, Elvis Presley, Creedence Clearwater Revival or Ben. E. King

Unissued recordings: Several unofficial recordings live from the A-Trane and Soultrane. Almost every Monday in 2002 and 2003, Compilation „The Jazz Award“