John Gorka
Legendary, one of folk music’s greats
Rolling Stone called John Gorka, “the preeminent male singer-songwriter of the New Folk Movement.”
In recognizing John Gorka’s Before Beginning as 2016’s Best Singer/Songwriter CD, the Indie Acoustic Project (IAP) said, “John Gorka is perhaps the quintessential iconic singer-songwriter of the 80’s folk scene. Hailing from New Jersey, but forged in the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene, he honed his craft and persona into an unmistakable image. The shy, wry, insightful, and yes, sensitive singer-songwriter has been copied and parodied. But the old coat he wove still fits, and still suits him well. The old songs ring as true as they ever did, and the new ones are just as good.”
John got his start at Godfrey Daniels, a small neighborhood coffee house in eastern Pennsylvania, which had long been a hangout for music lovers and aspiring musicians. In the late 1970’s, John was one of these aspiring musicians. He was soon living there and acting as MC and sound man. He encountered legendary folk troubadours whose brand of folk-inspired acoustic music inspired him. Before long he was the opening act, performing his own songs.
When he started traveling to New York City and Boston, his stunningly soulful baritone voice and original songwriting began turning heads. He has been writing and performing ever since, listening to other people’s stories, folding them into song and sharing them with fans across the country and in Europe. “I feel like the song is not complete unless it has a receiver — a listener who makes it a part of their own imagination, their own life. It becomes kind of a collective property and it’s as much their song as it is mine.”
In 1987, Gorka cut his debut album, I Know, for the Red House label, winning acclaim for his songs' subtle wit and acute character observations. Many well-known artists have recorded and/or performed John Gorka songs, including Mary Chapin Carpenter, Nanci Griffith, Mary Black and Maura O’Connell.
"I don't mind calling myself a folksinger," says Gorka, "although, I'm not so sure that's what I am. I'm a blend of folk, rhythm and blues and gospel. It's been said that in folk music, the music is more important than the singer, and for me to become a folksinger, now that would be a real achievement."
“Gorka is widely heralded for the sophisticated intelligence and provocative originality of his songs.” – Boston Globe
“Listening to John Gorka sing, one can get goose bumps all over. There are many reasons: fresh lyrics, a stunning emotional baritone, and his twisted humor.” – New York Times