The renowned folk singer and songwriter John Gorka returns to The Mainstay in Rock Hall, Maryland on Thursday August 4 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20. For information and reservations call 410-639-9133. Information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Originally from NJ, and now based in Minnesota, the world-renowned singer and songwriter John Gorka got his start at Godfrey Daniels Coffeehouse in Bethelehem PA.
The New York Times has said, “Listening to John Gorka sing, one can get goosebumps all over. There are many reasons: fresh lyrics, a stunning emotional baritone and a twisted sense of humor.”
His songs have been recorded by Mary Chapin Carpenter and Nanci Griffith and his live performances inspire with his thoughtful and thought-provoking songs, subtle wry humor, expressive guitar and warm, friendly, baritone.
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 troubadours like Canadian singer/songwriter Stan Rogers, Eric Andersen, Tom Paxton and Claudia Schmidt. Their brand of folk-inspired acoustic music inspired him, and before long 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, Gorka hit the ground running and, when an offer came from Windham Hill’s Will Ackerman in 1989, he signed with that label’s imprint, High Street Records. He proceeded to record five albums with High Street over the next seven years: Land of the Bottom Line, Jack’s Crows, Temporary Road, Out of the Valley and Between Five 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.
While he is a festival favorite, and occasionally plays large rooms he is most at home in a small room like The Mainstay where he and an audience can make a deep connection.
In 1998, after five successful recordings and seven years at Windham Hill/High Street, Gorka felt the need for a change and returned 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.
His 1998 release After Yesterday marked a decidedly different attitude towards making music for Gorka, and his next 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 John and Rob Genadek. Ani DiFranco, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucy Kaplansky and Patty Larkin contributed stellar guitar work and vocals to this fan favorite.
Old Futures Gone was informed by his life as husband and father of two young children and also contained the colorful experience of many hard years on the road. He has continued to record for Red House and his most recent is 2014’s Bright Side of Down.
In addition to his many critically acclaimed albums, Gorka released a collector’s edition box featuring a hi-definition DVD and companion CD called The Gypsy Life. Windham Hill has also recently released a collection of Gorka’s greatest hits from the label called Pure John Gorka.
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street.
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