Bio:Gary LaSasso
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Gary LaSasso was born in Walton New York (USA) on August 10, 1949, as Gary Alvarez. His raising was shared between various inner city neighborhoods in New York City (mostly Brooklyn), and his maternal grandfather's dairy farm in Downsville, New York.
He lived in Hilside Housing projects in The Bronx, at age 5, and went to PS 278 for one year.
He moved to Coney Island, in 1956 at age 6. He shined Shoes on "Boardwalk" until age 9. He went to PS 188. He lived on 33rd St. between Mermaid & Surf Ave for two years. He the lived on 29th Street for one year.
At age 9, he moved to the Louis H. Pink Housing Project in East New York, Brooklyn (May 11, 1959). He attended PS 108, & JHS 214.
At 14, (in 1963), he moved to "Pigtown" Brooklyn. He attended Winthrop JHS and Wingate HS. He left in May 1965, (at 15), for Detroit Michigan, to work at the "HappyLand Carnival". He travelled throughout Michigan and the mid-west until mid October 1965.
At 15 he started taking "Drum Lessons" from Carmine Appice, of Vanilla Fudge / Cactus fame.
At 17, (on Dec. 12 1966), he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was adopted by his step father, Antonio LaSasso in April 1967. He was trained as a jet mechanic. He served as such at NAS Memphis, and later at VMFA 251 Power Plants, Beaufort South Carolina.
He was honorably discharged from the Marines on Feb. 15, 1970, as an E-5 Sgt. at 20 yrs. old. He later worked as a telephone lineman and a New York City Correction Officer. He left corrections to pursue a carrer as a Sci Fi Illustrator, in 1978.
He attended the New York Institute of Technology (while working), and received "Dean's list" honors in the spring of 1975.
LaSasso has done book covers for Bantam Books, St. Martin's Press, Double Day, Pocket Books, and other publishers from 1977 to 1984. He created covers for the Nebula Award Winners Series (numberss 13 thru 18), The Stainless Steel Rat, Windover Tapes, Port Eternity, Cinnebar, Off World, Re-Entry, Planet Masters, Mysterious visions, and many other books.
LaSasso did special effects for Image Engineers, and Creative Associates (& Others), in Los Angelas California, from 1979 to 1981. He built custom cars and motorcycles (primarily), from 1981 to 1989. He has been building themed environments and special effects, (primarily), from 1989 to date (2008).