John Gorka

Singer/Songwriter

John Gorka's lyrically poetic folk songs are in line with the work of many of his contemporaries, like Lucy Kaplansky, Greg Brown, Vance Gilbert, and Ellis Paul. Folks who enjoy the work of Janis Ian and James Taylor would also probably like John Gorka's work.

John Gorka's first instrument was actually the banjo.

Jack's Crows (High Street, 1991). The Company You Keep (Red House, 2001). Old Futures Gone (Red House, 2003).

John Gorka was born in July, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey, and was raised in Colonia, NJ. When he was just ten years old, he received his first guitar as a Christmas present, though his older brother claimed the guitar as his own. As a result, John took up the banjo instead.

He started writing songs with a church group when he was in high school; but it was during college (Moravian College – Bethlehem, PA) that Gorka began performing more steadily and writing contemporary folk songs. During this time, he was a member of the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band, which specialized in contemporary folk and bluegrass music and also boasted Richard Shindell as a member.

While playing with the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band, Gorka began hanging out at a nearby coffeeshop called Godfrey Daniels, where he began playing at and hosting the open mic nights there. It was then that he began honing his skills as a solo singer/songwriter, as he became the opening act for other traveling folksingers like Nanci Griffith, Bill Morrissey, Claudia Schmidt, and others.

In 1984, he won first place in the New Folk competition at Kerrville Folk Festival. He has since recorded nine albums and toured with Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Cliff Eberhardt, Lucy Kaplansky, and many more. He continues to perform regularly at the Kerrville, Boston, Clearwater, and Falcon Ridge folk festivals, among others.
Listen/Download John Gorka MP3s