David Gogo
Encyclopedia
David Gogo is a Canadian blues
guitarist
who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay Records
label.
David Gogo is the cousin of Trooper
keyboardist Paul Gogo
.
, and received his first guitar at the age of five. At the age of 15, he met Stevie Ray Vaughan
backstage at the Royal Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia
and was encouraged by the blues legend to pursue a career in blues. By the age of 16, he was getting regular work as a musician. Gogo formed a band called The Persuaders, which eventually opened for blues performers such as Johnny Winter
, Buddy Guy
and Albert Collins
. After a European tour supporting The Fabulous Thunderbirds
, Gogo signed a solo record deal with EMI Records
. He soon after performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival
with the likes of B.B. King, Otis Rush
and Blues Traveler
. He also guested on Tom Cochrane
's Mad Mad World
album while working on material for his upcoming debut album. The album David Gogo was released to critical acclaim and received a nomination for a Juno Award
.
Despite its many successes, Gogo's debut album was never released in the United States, and Gogo made the decision to leave EMI Records
in order to pursue his passion for the blues. His next album, "Dine Under the Stars", was released in Europe by French label Dixiefrog Records. He also signed with Canadian Independent label Ragged Pup/Cordova Bay Records
. Several successful European tours and American blues festival appearances followed, as well as the albums "Change of Pace" (a rock-oriented blues album) and "Bare Bones" (an acoustic blues album) in 2000. Gogo was named Musician of the Year at the 1999/2000 West Coast Music Awards.
"Halfway to Memphis" was released by Cordova Bay Records
and Dixiefrog Records (Europe) in 2001. The first single from the album "Skeleton Key" - the song Personal Jesus
by Depeche Mode
- was released in the summer of 2002. Gogo's bluesy rendition of Personal Jesus
garnered him an award for Guitarist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards
for 2002.
The special "Live At Deer Lake: Official Bootleg Series - Volume 1" was released in 2003. It is a live recording of songs mostly found on "Skeleton Key", recorded just outside Vancouver
in Deer Lake (British Columbia)
. The album was nominated for a Juno Award
in Canada.
Gogo's eighth album, entitled "Vibe", is a compilation of original songs written with the likes of Tom Wilson
, Craig Northey
(Odds
/Colin James
) and John Capek
. "Vibe" was released in 2004 and showcases Gogo's vocal strengths and guitar skills on songs like "I'll Do Anything" and "300 Pound Shoes". Renowned blues guitarist Jeff Healey
makes a guest appearance with a guitar solo on "She's All Right". In 2004 Gogo also made a guest appearance on Bob Walsh's album "Bob Walsh Live – A Canadian Blues Rendez-Vous". He received his second Guitarist of the Year award at the Maple Blues Awards
for 2004.
In 2006, Gogo released another acoustic blues album as part of his Bootleg Series. "Acoustic: Official Bootleg Series - Volume 2" features the rich tones of Gogo's 1930 National Steel
guitar as well as his 1915 Gibson and a modern day 12-string. "Acoustic" was nominated for a Juno Award
for Blues Album of the Year.
In 2008, Gogo's music was featured in the Steven Seagal
movie Kill Switch
.
Gogo's tenth album was recorded in his own home in Nanaimo, British Columbia
. "Different Views" was produced by Juno-nominated producer Russell Broom (Jann Arden
, Sam Roberts
, The Dudes
) with guests Shaun Verrault (Wide Mouth Mason
), roots diva Carolyn Mark
, and jazz great Phil Dwyer
. "Different Views" was released in July 2009.
Gogo's most recent album is titled "Soul Bender", named after the Fulltone guitar pedal of the same name. The album was released in June 2011. It is a combination of original songs and covers, including "The Changeling" by The Doors
and "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson
.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
who is currently signed to the Cordova Bay Records
Cordova Bay Records
Cordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
label.
David Gogo is the cousin of Trooper
Trooper (band)
Trooper is a Juno Award winning Canadian rock band that developed from a group formed by vocalist Ramon McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith in 1975...
keyboardist Paul Gogo
Gogo (Canadian musician)
Gogo is a Canadian rock-and-roll keyboard player, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for being the keyboardist of the Canadian rock band Trooper...
.
History
Gogo was born in Nanaimo, British ColumbiaNanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, and received his first guitar at the age of five. At the age of 15, he met Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
backstage at the Royal Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
and was encouraged by the blues legend to pursue a career in blues. By the age of 16, he was getting regular work as a musician. Gogo formed a band called The Persuaders, which eventually opened for blues performers such as Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
and Albert Collins
Albert Collins
Albert Collins was an American electric blues guitarist and singer whose recording career began in the 1960s in Houston and whose fame eventually took him to stages across the US, Europe, Japan and Australia...
. After a European tour supporting The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
, Gogo signed a solo record deal with EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
. He soon after performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
with the likes of B.B. King, Otis Rush
Otis Rush
Otis Rush is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes...
and Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
. He also guested on Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane
Tom Cochrane, OC Canadian musician and humanitarian, best known for his hit songs "Life Is a Highway", "Lunatic Fringe", "Human Race" and "I Wish You Well". Cochrane fronted the Canadian rock band Red Rider and has won seven Juno Awards...
's Mad Mad World
Mad Mad World
- Personnel :* Tom Cochrane - vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, piano, harmonica, percussion, bass, keyboards, slide guitar* John Webster - percussion, piano, organ* Spider Sinnaeve - bass* Mickey Curry - drums...
album while working on material for his upcoming debut album. The album David Gogo was released to critical acclaim and received a nomination for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
.
Despite its many successes, Gogo's debut album was never released in the United States, and Gogo made the decision to leave EMI Records
EMI Records
EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
in order to pursue his passion for the blues. His next album, "Dine Under the Stars", was released in Europe by French label Dixiefrog Records. He also signed with Canadian Independent label Ragged Pup/Cordova Bay Records
Cordova Bay Records
Cordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
. Several successful European tours and American blues festival appearances followed, as well as the albums "Change of Pace" (a rock-oriented blues album) and "Bare Bones" (an acoustic blues album) in 2000. Gogo was named Musician of the Year at the 1999/2000 West Coast Music Awards.
"Halfway to Memphis" was released by Cordova Bay Records
Cordova Bay Records
Cordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
and Dixiefrog Records (Europe) in 2001. The first single from the album "Skeleton Key" - the song Personal Jesus
Personal Jesus
"Personal Jesus" is Depeche Mode's 23rd UK single, released on August 29, 1989, and the first single from the album Violator. The single reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100...
by Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
- was released in the summer of 2002. Gogo's bluesy rendition of Personal Jesus
Personal Jesus
"Personal Jesus" is Depeche Mode's 23rd UK single, released on August 29, 1989, and the first single from the album Violator. The single reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100...
garnered him an award for Guitarist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards
Maple Blues Awards
The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement...
for 2002.
The special "Live At Deer Lake: Official Bootleg Series - Volume 1" was released in 2003. It is a live recording of songs mostly found on "Skeleton Key", recorded just outside Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in Deer Lake (British Columbia)
Deer Lake (British Columbia)
Deer Lake is a lake in central Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Deer Lake is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna and features a number of walking trails...
. The album was nominated for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
in Canada.
Gogo's eighth album, entitled "Vibe", is a compilation of original songs written with the likes of Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson (musician)
Tom Wilson is a Canadian rock musician from Hamilton, Ontario.A veteran of the Canadian music scene, Wilson has been a writer and performer for many years. Wilson's eclectic musical style has ranged from the psychobilly sound of the Florida Razors, to the western/roots style of Blackie and the...
, Craig Northey
Craig Northey
Craig Northey is a Canadian musician and one of the founding members of the band Odds.After the breakup of Odds in 1999, Northey has embarked on several other ventures, including working with Colin James, Rosanne Cash, Glen Phillips, Bruce McCulloch and many others...
(Odds
Odds (band)
Odds are a Canadian alternative rock band. The band's power pop style has been frequently compared to that of contemporaries such as Squeeze, Elvis Costello, Weezer, Tom Petty, Sloan, The Clash, XTC, Franz Ferdinand, and The Tubes.-Odds :...
/Colin James
Colin James
Colin James is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who plays in the blues, rock, and neo-swing genres. He grew up as a Quaker.-Early years:...
) and John Capek
John Capek
-Biography:John Capek was born in Prague, Czech Republic, the son of a concert pianist and his wife, a survivor of Auschwitz. Capek moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia at the age of three.-Career:...
. "Vibe" was released in 2004 and showcases Gogo's vocal strengths and guitar skills on songs like "I'll Do Anything" and "300 Pound Shoes". Renowned blues guitarist Jeff Healey
Jeff Healey
Norman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey was a blind Canadian jazz and blues-rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical and personal popularity, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
makes a guest appearance with a guitar solo on "She's All Right". In 2004 Gogo also made a guest appearance on Bob Walsh's album "Bob Walsh Live – A Canadian Blues Rendez-Vous". He received his second Guitarist of the Year award at the Maple Blues Awards
Maple Blues Awards
The Maple Blues Awards are Canada’s blues awards, "honouring the finest in Canadian blues". They are the only comprehensive national best in blues awards program. The program's goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement...
for 2004.
In 2006, Gogo released another acoustic blues album as part of his Bootleg Series. "Acoustic: Official Bootleg Series - Volume 2" features the rich tones of Gogo's 1930 National Steel
National String Instrument Corporation
The National String Instrument Corporation was a guitar company that formed to manufacture the first resonator guitars.-National resonator guitar designs:...
guitar as well as his 1915 Gibson and a modern day 12-string. "Acoustic" was nominated for a Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Blues Album of the Year.
In 2008, Gogo's music was featured in the Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
movie Kill Switch
Kill Switch (film)
Kill Switch is a direct-to-video 2008 film that was later released for theatrical distribution starring Steven Seagal and directed by Jeff King. Steven Seagal plays Detective Jacob King, a tough cop with a reputation for violent street-justice methods. King investigates murders in Memphis,...
.
Gogo's tenth album was recorded in his own home in Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
. "Different Views" was produced by Juno-nominated producer Russell Broom (Jann Arden
Jann Arden
Jann Arden is a Canadian singer-songwriter.-Life and career:Arden was born and raised near Calgary in Springbank, Alberta and attended Springbank Community High School. Her breakthrough came with her critically acclaimed 1993 debut album Time for Mercy and her first single "I Would Die For You"...
, Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts
Sam Roberts is a Juno Award-winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, whose 2001 debut release, The Inhuman Condition, became one of the bestselling independent releases in Quebec and Canadian music history.-Life and career:...
, The Dudes
The Dudes
The Dudes are a Canadian indie rock band, formed in 1996 in Calgary, Alberta. Dan Vacon is The Dudes' major creative force in the band. The group also includes guitarist Bob Quaschnick, drummer Scott Ross and newest member Brock Geiger on bass....
) with guests Shaun Verrault (Wide Mouth Mason
Wide Mouth Mason
Wide Mouth Mason is a Canadian blues-based rock band, consisting of Shaun Verreault , Safwan Javed , and Gordie Johnson . Former bassist Earl Pereira was also co-founder of Wide Mouth Mason...
), roots diva Carolyn Mark
Carolyn Mark
Carolyn Mark is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter. She has recorded as a solo artist and as a member of the duo The Corn Sisters with American colleague Neko Case, as well as with the bands the Vinaigrettes, Jr. Gone Wild, Showbusiness Giants, the Fixin's and the Metronome Cowboys...
, and jazz great Phil Dwyer
Phil Dwyer
Philip Joseph Dwyer is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. During his career, he attained 10 caps for Wales and played his club football for Cardiff City, where he still holds the club's all-time appearance record, as a centre-half-Football career:Dwyer, affectionally...
. "Different Views" was released in July 2009.
Gogo's most recent album is titled "Soul Bender", named after the Fulltone guitar pedal of the same name. The album was released in June 2011. It is a combination of original songs and covers, including "The Changeling" by The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
and "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
Solo
- 1994 David Gogo (CapitolCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
/EMIEMI RecordsEMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide...
) - 2000 Dine Under the Stars (Ragged Pup/Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
)< - 2000 Bare Bones (Ragged Pup/Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2000 Change of Pace (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2001 Halfway to Memphis (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2002 Skeleton Key (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2003 Live At Deer Lake: Official Bootleg Series Vol. 1 (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2004 Vibe (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2006 Acoustic: Official Bootleg Series Vol. 2 (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2009 Different Views (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
) - 2011 Soul-Bender (Cordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay RecordsCordova Bay Records is an independent Canadian record label founded by Michael Burke in 1998. The label currently has distribution through Fontana North / Universal Music Canada .-Artists:* Acres Of Lions* Bill Bourne* Bob Lanois* David Gogo* Krome...
)