John Gorka in Portland

John Gorka is an American singer-songwriter from New Jersey whose music centers on contemporary folk, acoustic guitar and a baritone voice. He is known for songs such as “Love Is Our Cross to Bear” and for albums including I Know, Land of the Bottom Line, Jack’s Crows and The Company You Keep. Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was central to his early live career: he worked at the coffeehouse and began performing there before winning the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1984. He later toured in the songwriter ensemble On A Winter’s Night, then performed with Eliza Gilkyson and Lucy Kaplansky following their trio album Red Horse.