The Drew Carey GiftDay Story

Drew Carey surprises a lot of people when they learn about him.  Most people know Carey through his mild-mannered and nerdy on-screen television persona.  But the real Carey is neither mild-mannered nor nerdy.  Carey, in fact, is hard-core.  He’s a physical and athletic guy, an ex-Marine and rabid soccer fan - such a fan, in fact, that he professionally photographs the U.S. National Soccer team.  So big is Carey’s love of the game that he bought a large stake in a Major League Soccer team. 

Carey also cultivates one other special interest that especially surprises people.  In addition to being an accomplished writer, performer, artist and photographer, Carey is also a trumpet player.  Yes!  And a good one, too.  He performed in his high school’s marching band in fact and still enjoys listening to and playing the horn.

Carey’s former colleague and friend Ed is also a mutual friend and former colleague of mine.  Ed had no idea what to get Carey for his 50th birthday, but I knew that Carey’s love of the trumpet would yield some GiftDay gold.  Ed eagerly agreed to let me find a gift for him as he had no idea what to get someone who likely already had everything he needed or wanted.

After speaking with Ed and moments after typing Carey’s birthdate, May 23, 1958, into Google, we discovered the perfect GiftDay gift...  On May 23, 1958, the same day Carey was born, John Coltrane entered the studio to produce a jazz masterpiece: "Black Pearls". Coltrane brought along with him the greatest trumpeter in the land, Donald Byrd.  The other musicians playing with Coltrane and Byrd that day were no mere “slouches” either: the inimitable Red Garland on piano, standup bass superstar Paul Chambers and the awesome Art Taylor on percussion.  It was a recording session that would fully showcase Coltrane’s and Byrd’s genius and produce the classic tracks “Lover Come Back to Me” and “Sweet Sapphire Blues”, among others.

For a musician often described as methodical, Byrd’s improvisational genius in particular stands out during the recording - a mighty feat given the assembled group.

Byrd, like Carey, was much more than a horn player; he was “gifted” (we love that expression) in many disciplines.  In addition to being a stellar musician, Donald Byrd was a an intellectual who earned a law degree, received a doctorate and taught at the highest education levels.  The fact that Carey and he share such a meaningful date is the stuff of poetry.  In Cleveland, Ohio, at the moment the John Coltrane Quintet was recording their master historic tracks, Drew Carey, future trumpet player, United States Marine, successful stand-up comedian, actor and television host was born.

GiftDay tracked down a copy of “Black Pearls” on vinyl for Ed to give to Carey.  Although the record took little time to find and purchase and even though it was inexpensive, the thought and gesture behind it were highly valued.  Carey expressed to Ed that the gift meant a great deal to him.

GiftDay endeavors to help everyone find special meaning in gifts through time - so that the gifts can be used to tell the gift recipient that they are unique and special and that they have been thought about, considered and fussed over.  Because everyone likes to be treated like a star on their birthday.  Even a soccer fan, television talk show host and former U.S. marine.