Joe Gavin
Joe Gavin began playing the guitar when he was sixteen years old. Having only his ear and a handful of chords shown by a friend, he would put on a record and try to play what he heard. His main interest was electric rock guitar. Within a year or so of learning to play, he heard Phil Keaggy. Joe was inspired by Phil's masterful playing and unique style. He continued to play and develop his own technique, primarily on the electric guitar. Hearing the release of Phil Keaggy's Beyond Nature was a turning point for Joe. "It was like an awakening for me. That music brought to life a side of me I had not really known before." Joe bought an acoustic guitar and began to explore and develop this new love. He has been playing solo acoustic guitar for the past 15 years. "Just listening closely to the guitar is my greatest inspiration for new compositions. It's sort of like a conversation. I hear the guitar, and then I think of how I might respond." This intimacy with the instrument is evident in the music that results. Joe's music uses unique playing techniques and tunings as a medium for his art , not as tricks just to impress the acoustic listener.
Thanks to my wife Teri for writing this bio for me!
I believe that music, along with all other gifts, comes from God. With a heart of worship, I want to declare God's worth in my music. All around us is the evidence of God's infinite creativity and beauty. As nature can speak volumes to us without using words, music has the ability to help us see God in places we hadn't seen Him before.