Drummer Gary Hobbs is a native of the Pacific Northwest and lives in Vancouver, Washington. He has played professionally for over four decades and appears on over 60 recordings. Hobbs joined the UO music faculty in 1998 as an adjunct instructor for jazz drumset.

Gary played with The Stan Kenton Orchestra from 1975 through 1977. Through the years Gary has played with Randy Brecker, Bud Shank, George Cables, Ken Peplowski, Pete Christlieb, Greta Matassa, Anita O'Day, Dan Siegel, Glen Moore, The New York Voices, Eddie Harris and many more. Randy Brecker, Bill Mays, Kurt Elling, Dave Frishberg, David Freisen, Bobby Shew, Bobby Watson, Bob Florence, Carl Saunders, The Woody Herman Orchestra,Terry Gibbs, Jaquie Naylor, Jim Widner Big Band, Stan Kenton Alumni Big Band and Tom Grant are just a few of the artists that Gary has recently performed with.

Carnagie Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Tivoli Garden, Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap are among the venues Gary has played along with scores of festivals and clubs all over the world. Gary is very active in jazz education teaching at the UO and in traveling all over the U.S. doing clinics, concerts, and jazz camps with the help of Crescent Cymbal Company and Yamaha Drum Company.