John Gorka

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PJohn Gorka grew up in Colonia, NJ and at age ten got his first guitar as a Christmas present. Before his fingers were strong enough to press the strings down his older brother claimed the guitar for himself. and carved his name in it. The younger Gorka never recovered from this blow. A few years later he took up the banjo to retaliate. The family was never the same.

In high school Gorka started writing songs and singing with a church folk group. When he moved away from home to go to Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, he started performing in the school coffeehouse programs and the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band, a non-traditional bluegrass, country, blues and folk band. Future songwriter and recording artist Richard Shindell was asked to join the band as the lead guitar player when the others learned he could play Black Magic Rag. Fellow Spasm member Doug Anderson took Gorka to a coffeehouse that had just opened on the south side of Bethlehem, PA called Godfrey Daniels. It was there Gorka discovered the kind of performer he wanted to become.

By the early 80's he was the virtual house opening act at Godfrey Daniels and many of the people he met and opened for there went on to open doors for him in other parts of the country, among them, Nanci Griffith, Bill Morrissey, Claudia Schmidt and Jack Hardy. Griffith encouraged him to enter Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Competition, which he won in 1984. Hardy invited him to record for the Fast Folk Musical Magazine and introduced him to the revitalized Greenwich Village folk scene.

He performed in the Fast Folk live shows which featured Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Christine Lavin, Dave Van Ronk, Cliff Eberhardt, David Massengill, Frank Christian and Lucy Kaplansky to name a few. Not wishing to be billed as a generic, contemporary singer/songwriter, he became known as "the intense white guy from New Jersey."

Red House Records released his first record, I Know in September 1987, helping Gorka established himself as a touring artist. He has gone on to become, in the words of Rolling Stone, "The preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement."

Writing in the Margins John Gorka's first new CD in 3 years, Writing in the Margins is an up-tempo collection of folk, country and pop tunes that explore love, war and hope for the future. Featuring special guest vocalists Nanci Griffith and Lucy Kaplansky. CD Price: $15.98

Old Futures Gone John Gorka's most realized recording in a career of fine recordings. This CD takes an intriguing look at our unexpected present and tomorrows. With fresh stylistic turns and band-driven gentle grooves, the sound remains pure Gorka...his voice, melodies and lyrics riding on infectious, well-conceived arrangements. Joining him on guest vocals are folk artists Lucy Kaplansky and Alice Peacock and soul singer Kathleen Johnson. CD Price: $15.98

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