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Larry Gates was a talented musician, sought-after audio engineer, composer, music producer, and member of The Hit Men. Early in his career, he traveled with GRP Records to Japan as audio engineer for the label’s tour of jazz greats of the day, and worked with famous recording artists at some of New York’s biggest recording studios. As owner of Newfound Sound, he wrote, produced and sang on advertising jingles that were heard nationwide, including the famous “I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys “R” Us kid” that won the 1984 Clio Award . . . one of numerous New York Ad Club “Addy” and Clio awards he won throughout his career as a jingle writer and producer.
In later years, William Paterson University music students came to Larry’s Gater Music studio in Fair Lawn to help them with their audition tapes. He was a devoted husband to Caryn Starr-Gates and the loving father and music coach to his daughter, Ariana Gates, a 2017 William Paterson University music graduate.
The Larry Gates Music Production Scholarship was established in his memory by Caryn and Ariana. It's for a full-time undergraduate student who is enrolled in the sound engineering arts program, excels in the program, and demonstrates financial need (not necessarily as defined by the federal government).