John Gorka is an acoustic based singer songwriter
and self described "aspiring folksinger." His songs look at the world
with a realistic hope, acknowledging the sorrows and celebrating the joys
of a modern life. "the quintessential urban folksinger"
The Moravian college band in Bethlehem with Richard Shindell, Doug Andersen,
John Gorka,
Russ Rentler (Photo was made at Folk Festival -1978 Bethlehem, PA)
........................ Godfrey
Daniels..............................................
Shawn, John and
Lucy
Godfrey
Daniels is one of the oldest and most venerable music institutions in
eastern Pennsylvania. A small neighborhood coffeehouse and listening room,
it has long been a hangout for music lovers and aspiring musicians, and
in the late 1970s, one of these was a young Moravian
College student named John Gorka. Though his academic course work lay
in Philosophy and History,
music began to offer paramount enticements. Soon he found himself living
in the club's basement and acting as resident M.C. and soundman, encountering
legendary folk troubadors like Canadian singer/songwriter Stan Rogers, Eric
Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of
folk-inspired acoustic
music inspired
him, and
beforelong
he was performing his own songs --mostly as an opener for
visiting acts. Soon he started traveling to New York City, where Jack
Hardy's legendary Fast
Folk circle (a breeding ground for many a major singer/songwriter) became
a powerful source of education and encouragement. Folk meccas like Texas'
Kerrville Folk Festival (where he won the New Folk Award in 1984) and Boston
followed, and his stunningly soulful baritone voice and emerging songwriting
began turning heads. Those who had at one time inspired him -- Suzanne
Vega, Bill
Morrissey, Nanci Griffith,
Christine Lavin,
Shawn Colvin --
had become his peers.In
1987, the young Minnesota-based Red
House Records caught wind of John's talents and released his first album
, I Know , to popular and
critical acclaim. With unusual drive and focus, John hit the ground running
and, when an offer came from Windhan
Hill's Will Ackerman in 1989, he signed with that label's inprint, High
Street Records. He proceeded to record five albums with High Street over
the next 7 years: Land
of the Bottom Line
Jack's Crows, Temporary
Road, Out of
the Valley, and BetweenFive and Seven.
His albums and his touring (over 150 nights a year at times) brought new
accolades for his craft. Rolling Stone called him "the preeminent male
singer/songwriter of the new folk movement." His rich multi-faceted songs
full of depth, beauty and emotion gained increasing attention from critics
and audiences across the country, as well
as
in Europe where his tours led him through Italy, Belgium, Scotland, Ireland,
Holland, Switzerland and Germany. Other performers also discovered his
songwriting. His material is championed by many -- to date more than a
score of artists
have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin
Carpenter, Mary Black and Maura O'Connell. He also started sharing tours
with many notable friends -- Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin Carpenter
among them. All this has brought his music to an ever-widening audience.
His video for the single "When She Kisses Me" found a long-term rotation
on VH-1's "Current Country," as well as on CMT and the Nashville Network.
John also graced the stage of Austin City Limits, appeared on CNN, and
has been the subject of other national
programming.
Finally in 1998, after five successful recordings, and seven years at
Windham Hill/High Street, John felt the need for a change and decided
to return to his musical roots at Red House Records. The choice was driven,
in part, by the artistic integrity that the label represents in an industry
where the business of music too often takes precedence. As John says,
"Red House is in it first for the music, and so am I. It's a good place
to be." After Yesterday represents the first fruits of that reunion and
reflects John's continuing commitment to the craft of songwriting. Longtime
fans will find in its twelve songs John's trademark twist of lyric and
attention to the details that so effectively evoke a time, a place, a
person, or a range of emotion. But there are also the stirrings of new
musical directions with the evocative addition of percussion from Ani
DiFranco's drummer Andy
Stochansky.
John
also shares his joy at recent changes in his life (namely a 1996 marriage
and move to Minnesota, followed by the 1997 birth of a baby boy -- Bocephus
Mahatma Sinatra Gorka) with cuts such as "Cypress Trees," "After Yesterday"
and "When He Cries." There is a hardened knowledge, vented and voiced
in "Thorny Patch" and "Wisdom." Story
songs and character studies, "Amber Lee," "Silvertown"
and "Zuly" engage the imagination,while
a song like "Heroes" invites introspection. Though a long way from
John
and his wife..........................................John
with his son
>
Photos of John Gorka live at World
Trade Center 8/29/01. These pictures were made by Tommy
Lane (just 2 weeks before 9/11) The photo from WTC Tommy Lane
made up from the concertseats.
John
Gorka
with his musical "friends"
Photo
below:Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell, John Gorka, and David Francey
during an afternoon workshop (Great Waters Folk Festiva 2003)
John Gorka playing "When she kisses me"with Trina Hamlin on
harmonica playing at Kerrville 2007.
Video made by "Rockstarwrangler"
Godfrey
Daniels, John Gorka is still honored to be a part of the folk tradition
-- energetic acoustic music that is not a trend, not a fad, but an expression
of everyday life. After
Yesterday is the embodiment of that expression -- another classic
release where his rich baritone voice and unique songcraft weave together
in a way that can only be described as "Gorka."
His 2001 release "The
Company You Keep" held fast to John's tradition of fine songwriting,
yet moved forward down new avenues. Its fourteen songs displayed John's
creative use of lyrics and attention to detail. Andy Stochansky played
drums and shared production credits with Gorka and Rob Genadek. Ani DiFranco,
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucy Kaplansky and Patty Larkin contributed stellar
guitar work and vocals to this fan favorite.
John Gorka's fourth release for Red House Records is the 2003 CD "Old
Futures Gone". The CD contains fourteen songs filled with potent
lyrical twists, infectious melodies, and gentle grooves. The album was
produced in an unorthodox way. Gorka and producer Rob Genadek used three
separate drummers and three bass players in various combinations throughout
the recording sessions.
Genadek would hand pick the drummers and bass players he felt would be
right for each song. The result is a more interesting record. Themes taken
on in the songs range from character studies to commentary on politics
and the state of the modern world.
On his new CD "Writing
in the Margins" (2006), John Gorka reminds us of why he is considered
one of the best on the contemporary singer-songwriter scene. Almost two
decades after his debut recording, he has made a new collection of songs
that while perhaps not quite as immediately memorable as his early work,
still has all the great qualities in both composition and performance.
His songs are usually subtle and do reveal something new each time you
listen. The band and added guest backing vocalists ( Nanci
Griffith and Lucy Kaplansky) perform tastefully, and never get
in the way of the songs. Kudos to producer Rob Genadek, who also engineered
and mixed the recording. We give him a grade A for the sound quality with
both acoustic and electric instruments captured well. And the recording
has a decent dynamic range, something that is quite rare these days. While
I might recommend for the uninitiated some of John Gorka's earlier recordings
as representing his very best work, Writing in the Margins is a great
way to get to know this outstanding artist, And his long-time fans will
not be disappointed by this worthy new release.
Windham
Hill has also released in 2006 a collection of John’s greatest hits from
the label called Pure John
Gorka.
John
Gorka his first DVD "
The Gypsy Life" was released on september 16, 2007 on AIX
Records (a high definition, surround audio/video music label). Joined
by Susan Werner, Amilia K. Spicer, Russ Rentler and longtime collaborator
Michael Manring, John performs 19 of his best songs including: I Saw A
Stranger With Your Hair, I'm From New Jersy, Let Them In and Mercy of
the Wheels. Shot in HD Video and combined with two different 5.1 surround
music mixes, this is the ultimate presentation of acoustic vocal music.
With is October, 13 2009 release "So
Dark You See", his 11th studio album, he returns to his roots.This
is his most compelling and traditional album to date.
His new song “Where No Monument Stands” is featured in the upcoming documentary
Every War Has Two Losers, about activist Oregon Poet Laureate William
Stafford (1914-1993).
Red
Horse Eliza
Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky come together as Red Horse on
this brand-new collaborative project from three of the most revered songwriters
in folk music. Inspiring and paving the road for countless musicians and
songwriters on the road today, having these three talents converge on
one record is a folk fan's dream album.
Red
Horse's sparse instrumentation allows these three distinctive voices to
carry the magic of the music that is awash in great harmonies and songwriting.
Each of these legendary singer/songwriters solos on classics first made
famous by the other two members. Lucy gives a haunting performance of
Eliza's "Sanctuary," John takes the lead on Lucy's "Don't Mind Me" while
Eliza performs John's "Forget to Breathe" which has never been released
on Red House before. Red Horse showcases new material from all three,
covers they have never before recorded as well as revisiting and rearranging
a couple of early classics.
Red
Horse is the result of three veteran songwriters and good friends coming
together to make music. With Red Horse Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, and
Lucy Kaplansky give us a collection of songs that solidifies their place
as three of folk music's great songwriters.
Lucy
Kaplansky, Cliff Eberhardt & Cheryl Wheeler
live at the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival June
28-30, 2002 Laytonville, California
Gandalf
Murphy, john gorka, & dar williams with the song: "Peace Train"at
Falcon Ridge 2007
video by kayteepee601 (Katie)
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