Updated Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023:
The Birchmere owner Gary Oelze passed away Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 at the age of 80. He worked at The Birchmere for more than 56 years and was still going strong when Alexandria Living Magazine caught up with him last summer (see article below).
In a tribute posted on Facebook Monday, musician Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote, "A heavy heart this evening, having just gotten the news that Gary Oelze has passed away at the age of 80. If I had never met Gary, I whole heartedly believe that I wouldn’t have a career in music. ... The Birchmere will still bring world class music to the Washington, DC area, but it won’t be the same without Gary. Thank you old friend for your kindness, friendship and generosity – stars in your crown and a peaceful journey…".
Gary Oelze at The Birchmere
PHOTO by Buz Nachlas
Original article published July 2022 in Alexandria Living Magazine:
The Birchmere is in its 56th year and owner Gary Oelze is still going strong as he approaches his 80th birthday next month. Music has been a constant in Gary’s life, starting with his childhood in rural Kentucky.
“I was like all teenagers are at that time and all my buddies played instruments, so that's where I learned and I wasn't very good. I had to work at it.” He got into music for “the camaraderie and the fun. What is it they say, that you buy a guitar to impress the girls?"
Gary played in the first band to perform at the original Birchmere after it got its start as a restaurant in Shirlington. Named by the original owner for a camp he had fond memories of in New England, Gary managed the business and decided to add live music as a draw. The current Birchmere location at 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., is its third and largest, seating 500 for a sold-out show.
“Ray Charles played his last gig here,” Gary said. “He had his whole band and the Raelettes [a girl group that performed background vocals]. I mean, the whole nine yards. I don't know of any club that he ever did that in.” “And the same with the Johnny Cash show,” he said. “I do not know a club that Johnny Cash played in.”
Gary is quick to credit The Birchmere's Michael Jaworek for bringing in such a wide variety of world-class musicians that are household names to music lovers. Another musical act Gary is proud of bringing to the stage is the bluegrass group The Seldom Scene, “because I think they gave us a lot of legitimacy and people from all over the United States came to see them. They played every Thursday night for 20 years.”
It was a place for up-and-comers like Mary Chapin Carpenter, before they became famous, too. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Vince Gill got his start at The Birchmere, performing there when he was just 17. Any regrets? Not being able to book Willie Nelson, who was offered a deal to play at Wolf Trap and took that instead, Gary noted.
The Birchmere booked Jerry Lee Lewis (“Great Balls of Fire”) to play in 2019, but he suffered a stroke before the date.
Being so close to the nation’s capital, The Birchmere has played to plenty of politicos in the audience over the years, including President Clinton, then-first lady Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and then-spouse Tipper Gore, the late Justice Antonin Scalia and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Most shows begin right at 7:30 and The Birchmere tries to feed everyone in 90 minutes, from its extensive menu before the show begins. Some menu favorites include pulled pork sandwiches, smoked prime rib sandwiches and smokehouse ribs all made in-house and there are plenty of salads and vegetarian options.
When he isn’t working, Gary enjoys fishing at his place in Jupiter, Fla. and at his lake in Orange, Va. “It’s full of bass, I can stay there for hours,” he said. He also likes to read about two non-fiction books a month. He has no plans to retire, laughing that he’ll have to be carried out.
“I'm sure Jim Matthews [owner of the building] will take over," and said he hopes that the staff, who he said are like family, would stay. "We create a good work environment, which is so important. And it transfers to the crowd.”
In March, Gary accepted a proclamation from the Virginia Senate commending The Birchmere for its contributions to cultural life in Northern Virginia. We couldn’t agree more.
