Born in Houston, Texas in 1953, John Garza started singing at 6 years of age with "a voice that made the old ladies cry." In his teens, he spent a lot of time playing as a solo artist at coffee houses like Sand Mountain (where Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt got started), and at parties with friends. He won outstanding vocalist in Houston while in the band The Midnight Shift (originally called TOBY), and opened for local bands like Fever Tree and The Moving Sidewalks (later became ZZ Top), then spent a year or more singing with the band St. Laufren.
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Moving to Austin, TX at twenty, John returned to his solo career playing many venues and opening for people like the Vaughan brothers (Stevie Ray & Jimmy), Jerry Jeff Walker, The Lost Gonzo Band, Tom Rush, Marcia Ball, Robert Shaw (renowned barrelhouse pianist), Doug Sahm (of the Sir Douglas Quintet) and the Texas Tornados, and singing with people like Lucinda Williams and Nanci Griffith. Winning the songwriters contest at the Kerrville (Texas) Folk Festival in the early 70's, he was joined at the winner's concert by one of the judges: David Amram, well known jazz musician and composer for the New York Philharmonic.
Later, John appeared on the BF Deal Sampler Vol. 1 as one of four artists (along with Nanci Griffith, Frank Zigal and Will Walker). More recently John has opened for people like Taj Mahal, The Outlaws, Jesse Winchester, John Stewart (Kingston Trio fame) and Alice Walker (The Color Purple). John has always been fond of the Theater and has performed in such roles as Ron in "Hair" (1990, opening the show as lead vocalist in "Aquarius"), Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1993) and Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" (1999). Recently John won the 2006 Spotlight to Stardom in Durango CO with his song "They Won't Be Speaking English When I Die" and opened for Asleep At the Wheel at the Fort Lewis concert hall. John is the music coordinator for the Durango Farmers Market and is performing periodicaly at Durango Joes Coffee Shop and Serious Texas Bar B Cue..
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