In the wake of Gary Karr’s passing, my heart is full — with sorrow, yes, but also with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Over the last three years, I had the rare gift of knowing Gary deeply: as a colleague, a friend, and as the manager of the Gary Karr Library, now housed in the lower level of Hugh’s Room in Toronto. In that time, I came to see what many have known for decades — that Gary was not just a musical genius, but a radiant soul who lived each day with clarity, humility, and a childlike wonder.
Gary’s mantra, even in his final days, was one of joy. When he learned of his Stage 4 diagnosis, he said without hesitation: “I’ve lived a most incredible life.” And it’s true. A full solo career on double bass — once thought impossible — dozens of recordings, hundreds of commissioned works, and thousands of students across the globe. He awoke each day at 5:30 a.m. to play music while the sun came up, often Bach. He believed in beauty and in sharing knowledge freely, and he lived those values until the very end.
Though we’re not ready to announce memorial plans just yet, I can share that there will be celebrations of Gary’s life in both Victoria and Toronto in the coming months and a recent posting of a tribute concert at the Bass festival in Belgium on August 22. These will be true to who Gary was: generous, loving, filled with music, and open to all. We know how many in the bass community — and beyond — want a moment to come together and remember this extraordinary man.
The Gary Karr Library in Toronto will continue — and grow. It remains a living, breathing tribute to Gary’s legacy, offering inspiration to new generations of players, thinkers, and dreamers. There are still unreleased recordings to come, and we are committed to honouring and preserving his artistry with the care and attention it so richly deserves.
A recent development that thrilled Gary was the digital reissue of 17 of his recordings through Japan’s King Records. These performances, once available only on vinyl and CD, are now accessible to listeners around the world. It means the next generation can hear Gary’s mastery as vividly as those who sat in concert halls decades ago. These recordings are a bridge — from the past to the future — and a fitting addition to his ongoing legacy.
What stood out most in Gary was how he gave others permission to shine. Whether in a one-on- one lesson or on the stage of a bass convention, he had a way of planting a tiny seed of insight that could transform a student’s life — if they were open to it. He was both virtuoso and gentle guide. A performer who could dazzle with ease, and a teacher who listened with care.
In the hundreds of bass events, masterclasses, and casual conversations I’ve witnessed, I saw the respect and affection Gary commanded — not just as an artist, but as a human.
being. He could move effortlessly between solitude and celebration, criticism, and praise, and he always stayed true to who he was. Simply, humbly, joyfully.
Gary Karr was — and remains — a North Star for so many of us. I miss him deeply. But I also know that his spirit plays on: in his recordings, in the library that bears his name, in the students who carry forward his teachings, and in the sunrise music that still echoes every morning.
— George Koller Gary Karr Library Manager Toronto, Ontario August 2025