Gary Portnoy is best known for co-writing and singing “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”, the theme from the hit television series “Cheers”.
Thanks to that song- as well as the themes to “Mr. Belvedere” and “Punky Brewster” among others- Gary was honored by ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) for having composed the most performed television themes for six consecutive years.
Gary is a two time Emmy nominee- for the "Cheers" theme and for “I Still Believe In Me”, a song he co-wrote for an episode of the television series “Fame”.
His songs have been recorded and performed by a diverse group of notables including Dolly Parton, Phish, Air Supply, and Leon Redbone. In addition, his self-titled album on Columbia Records was recently re-issued on CD by Sony Japan.
Over the years Gary has made occasional television appearances, including one on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and, most recently, on the 2006 TV LAND Awards.
After many years of concentrating mostly on the musical side of things, “Destiny” marks a turning point in Gary’s songwriting- or, rather, a “re-turning” point- to a time when he wrote words as well as music. From the first song to the last, "Destiny" is a heartfelt and revealing autobiographical effort- a mid life rumination on family, friendship, faith and sexuality.
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