Wolfgang Gartner

Many scholars, theologians, philosophers, and skeptics have set out to construct writings about Wolfgang Gartner, albeit with varying motivations. Simply put, he is one of pop music’s great survivors. Wolfgang is not blessed with movie star looks and a chiseled six-pack (a decidedly unchiseled 12- or 18-pack would be more like it) – his appeal and talents lie in other areas. Wolfgang Gartner first set out to make his mark in the music business in the early 1980s, when he went to work as a sideman on the disco circuit, honing his craft but making little or no money. He eventually got restless being a sideman and moved to New York City hoping to get a break. In the mid 1980s, while still working his way up, Wolfgang voiced commercial jingles (Sticky Fingers BBQ, Slick’s Auto Parts) and provided backup vocals on tour and in session work for various bands including The Terrible Tahitians, Ogo Bogo, Sprockets, and The Ferocious Five. After performing with a short-lived singing group called Yazzle Dazzle, Wolfgang returned to the background and took part in various projects behind the scenes. Throughout the late eighties and into the next decade Wolfgang continued to pursue his musical interests, this time diving into the newly emerging Gangsta Rap sound of the West Coast. His most successful solo project, MC Wolf & the Gang, attracted a cult following of listeners that spread from the West Coast to the South. His uncanny rhyme delivery set him apart from the mainstream, as he coined his own style of street-speak and unusual phrasing. Moreover, his longevity and sincerity earned him many alliances, first among his West Coast colleagues, then with Straight Thuggin Records and numerous Dirty South camps. In 1999, disputes between Gartner and Straight Thuggin led them to part ways, but not before Gartner’s reputation had been tarnished by bad press. Perhaps sensing his career was in jeopardy, Wolfgang began to revamp his public image, moving away from his gangsta roots toward a more wholesome aesthetic. He also began making gestures toward the dance community, releasing a handful of speed garage records under various guises. Almost three decades since his first foray into the business, Wolfgang is turning out some of the finest tracks of his career. His “Shapes EP” on Om Records marks the beginning of a new era and sound. Though it’s impossible to predict what Wolfgang will do next, one thing is certain: he is sure to leave his own anomalous creative style and imprint wherever he lands.

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