Gary Calamar Quotes

Powerful Gary Calamar for Daily Growth

About Gary Calamar

Gary Calamar is a renowned American music journalist, radio personality, and record producer known for his extensive knowledge of popular music and eclectic taste across various genres. Born on August 16, 1964, in New York City, Calamar grew up in a musically rich environment, with influences ranging from rock 'n' roll to soul, folk, and punk. His passion for music was nurtured by his parents, who introduced him to a diverse range of artists and styles at an early age. Calamar began his career in the music industry in the late 1980s when he started working at independent record stores, including Amoeba Music in Hollywood, California. This experience led him to work with various bands and artists, including R.E.M., The Smashing Pumpkins, and Pearl Jam. In the mid-1990s, Calamar joined KCRW, a renowned public radio station based in Santa Monica, California. There, he created and hosted the popular music show "Morning Becomes Eclectic," which showcased new and emerging artists alongside established acts from various musical genres. His work on this program earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated listener base. Calamar's writing career also took off during this time, with contributions to publications such as Rolling Stone, Spin, and Mojo magazines. He has penned liner notes for numerous albums and box sets, including those by The Beach Boys, The Byrds, and R.E.M. In 2017, Calamar co-authored "Play it Loud: An Epic History of the Style, Sound, and Revolution of the Electric Guitar" with Brad Tolinski. The book explores the cultural and musical impact of the electric guitar throughout history. Today, Gary Calamar continues to work at KCRW as a music consultant and hosts various special programs. His influence on contemporary music journalism, radio broadcasting, and record production remains significant.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Music is like a time machine that takes you back to the exact moment in your life when you first heard it."

This quote underscores the powerful, emotional connection we often forge with music throughout our lives. When we hear a song, it can instantly transport us to specific moments or periods, evoking memories and feelings associated with those times. Essentially, each piece of music serves as a personal time capsule, carrying us back to unique moments in our individual life narratives.


"Songs are like little movies – they have characters and stories and emotions."

This quote suggests that songs are miniature narratives, much like short films or "movies". They feature characters, settings, and a progression of events (the "story"), as well as the portrayal of various emotions, just as a film does. In essence, Gary Calamar is likening the structure and content of songs to that of movies, emphasizing their storytelling potential and emotional depth.


"Discovering new music is the most exciting thing. It's almost better than falling in love because it's so unexpected and magical."

This quote by Gary Calamar suggests that finding fresh, unknown music can be as exhilarating as experiencing romance for the first time. The discovery of new music offers an element of surprise and mystery that parallels the sensation of falling in love. The magic lies in the unexpected joy and emotion evoked from a connection with something unfamiliar, which transcends the boundaries of personal experiences. In essence, the quote emphasizes the transformative power of music and its ability to bring a sense of wonder and enchantment into our lives.


"I believe that music can change your life, your mood, and even the world."

This quote by Gary Calamar suggests that music has a profound impact on our lives, both individually and collectively. It implies that music can influence emotions (mood) and inspire significant changes within us. Furthermore, it suggests a broader perspective that through these transformations at an individual level, music may also have the power to effect global change as these transformed individuals interact and shape their surroundings. In essence, this quote emphasizes the transformative potential of music in our lives.


"The best moments in radio are when you introduce someone to a song they've never heard before and they fall in love with it."

This quote highlights the unique power of radio as a medium, where the curator (the DJ or presenter) has the ability to shape listeners' musical experiences by introducing them to new songs. It suggests that these moments when someone discovers a song they love through radio can be truly meaningful and impactful, creating lasting connections between the listener, the music, and the broadcaster. In essence, it underscores the role of radio as a catalyst for emotional discovery and shared cultural experiences.


I love iTunes as much as anybody. It's very convenient and very easy. But there is nothing like the vibe that you get when you walk into a record store. And I think a lot of people are still thrilled to spend a half hour there and go through the bins and make some purchases.

- Gary Calamar

Love, Through, Very, Convenient

Iggy Pop, or should I say Iggy's people, had reached out to me saying he was a True Blood fan, and if any opportunities come up, to please keep Iggy in mind. We sent Iggy the demo of 'LB&R'. He loved it and said, 'Sign me up.'

- Gary Calamar

Sign, Had, Demo, Iggy

I definitely love record stores. And worked in many over the years. Having said that, it's not necessarily that I love vinyl per se. I mean, I'm happy to use CDs and MP3s: to me, it's the music that's top priority. I do have a good collection of vinyl, but I rarely actually pull it out.

- Gary Calamar

Love, Happy, Use, CDs

I worked in Licorice Pizza when John Lennon was killed. I had the day off, but I came in anyway because people needed a place to mourn.

- Gary Calamar

People, Needed, Had, Lennon

Whenever I go to a new city, whether visiting or vacationing, I would always make that a point to get to the record store early on, just to get my bearings and see what was going on around town.

- Gary Calamar

New, Always, Visiting, Record Store

It's a great meeting place, community center, art gallery, singles bar, music venue. The record store really covers a lot of ground.

- Gary Calamar

Art, Center, Venue, Record Store

Certainly, R.E.M. grew out of the Wuxtry record store in Athens, where Peter Buck was working and Michael Stipe came in to visit. And even their later manager, Bertis Downs, they all met and congregated at that record store. So I'm sure we wouldn't see those without the record store.

- Gary Calamar

See, Out, Without, Record Store

The first purchase I made with my own money was a single by The Kinks, "All Day and All of the Night" and still one of my all time favorites.

- Gary Calamar

My Own, Still, Favorites, Kinks

The big difference between the radio show and the TV work is that I don't have to work by committee on the radio show. I'm the DJ; I can play what I want and suffer or get praised by that. With a TV show, it's much more of a collaboration, and the song that I might think is perfect may get shot down and vice versa.

- Gary Calamar

Play, Big, TV, Vice Versa

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