Gary Lucas has performed and collaborated with a who’s who of musical luminaries, including Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet), Jeff Buckley, Leonard Bernstein, Lou Reed, John Cale, Patti Smith, Chris Cornell, Bryan Ferry, Nona Hendryx, Los Van Van, Bob Weir, Nick Cave, Thurston Moore, Lukas Ligeti, Martha Wainwright, Camille O'Sullivan, Steve Kilbey, and many others.

He has also recorded over 50 albums to date in his own right in a variety of genres - jazz, rock, classical, folk, blues, avant-garde, and world music—and has performed in over 40 countries.

He has received several Lifetime Achievement awards for his songwriting with Jeff Buckley (he co-wrote Buckley’s anthems “Grace” and “Mojo Pin”) and many honors, including performing solo before the General Assembly of the United Nations to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.