The tribute started in the early afternoon and the music and tributes flowed late into the night, something Gary well and truly deserved, friend and fellow muso Rex Kapua, from Hawke's Bay, said.
"We played together for six years with Prince Tui Teka, and Bunny Walters, travelling overseas as well and I got to know Gary very well," he said.
"We hung around with the legends of New Zealand music such as Herbs, Dragon and Hello Sailor too."
In the late 1980s the pair worked with Eddie Lowe and hung out with Tania and John Rowles.
"Gary was an absolutely lovely man to work with," Rex said.
"He was very fit, loved his music and was so talented.
"I really miss the dude, he was the hardest-working musician in the world.
"He didn't make a lot of money, but he made a lot of friends. He's a hard act to follow."
As the musos and lovers of great music packed out Merrylees Hotel for the tribute, an 8-year-old Dannevirke drummer stole the show early on.
Isaac Hook's performance on the drums was described as "cool and awesome".
The Hook family has been a big part of music in Dannevegas and Isaac looked set to carry on the tradition and his impromptu performance delighted his family, proud grandmother Monica said.