Garry Quince is a composer and songwriter based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Born in England and raised in Australia from the age of 15, his musical journey began not long after arriving in 1968 with his parents and two brothers. Inspired by a friend’s guitar playing, he persuaded his parents to buy him a nylon-string classical guitar — the start of a lifelong connection to music.

Garry devoted every spare moment to learning and exploring the instrument. About a year later, while trying out guitars in a local music shop, the owner — impressed by his playing — offered him a paid spot to sit in the store and play for customers every Saturday morning. Without a setlist, he improvised freely for hours, creating music on the spot. Looking back, Garry considers this the true beginning of his passion for composing original music.

Over the next few years, Garry progressed to electric guitar and began jamming regularly with local musicians — including his late brother Pete, who developed a passion for drumming. Eventually in the early 1970s, Garry co-formed the progressive rock band ShadowFax, a predominantly original act known for its dynamic, evolving sound and original songs. The band built a strong following in Melbourne and Geelong, performing at major venues including Festival Hall (15,000 capacity), where they supported legendary acts such as Black Sabbath, Skyhooks, Cold Chisel and Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. ShadowFax toured across multiple states before disbanding in the late 1970s, having recorded several original tracks at Armstrong Recording Studios in Melbourne, though never officially released.

Garry was later invited to join Redhouse, a Geelong-based rock band that had just released their debut album One More Squeeze. Filling in as rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist, he performed with the group for several years and even appeared on their album cover. Toward the end of his time with Redhouse, Garry unknowingly caught the attention of Sydney band Finch, who approached him with an offer to become their lead guitarist and songwriter — including a Moog Guitar Synthesiser as incentive. Due to personal commitments, Garry had to decline.

During the next decade, while working as a contract Design/Detail Draftsman under his own business QMG Drafting Services, Garry focused on songwriting and home recording. Using a Fostex 250 4-track cassette recorder, he wrote and recorded over 50 original tracks — both vocal and instrumental — many of which have since been digitised, remixed, and made available on his YouTube channel, (they are also available for purchase and licensing from this website) He also performed in various pub and cabaret bands, before relocating to Melbourne in the late ’80s.

After a period away from music, Garry returned to his craft in 2009 following successful treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and the sad death of his brother Peter in 2008. He built a home studio in Geelong using Pro Tools, MIDI controllers, guitars, bass, and drum plugins like Superior Drummer 2, reigniting his passion for composing. Now officially retired at age 72, Garry continues to create new music — writing original songs, producing cinematic themes, and offering his catalogue for purchase, licensing, performance, and collaboration.

“I’ve written music through every chapter of my life — from loud stages to quiet home studios. Whether it’s a fully formed instrumental or an unfinished sketch waiting for lyrics and/or further instrumentation, I approach each piece as a chance to express emotion and tell a story. My goal now is simple: to keep creating, and to share music that can serve something larger — a film, a stage, a voice, or a moment.” 

GARRY QUINCE