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Singer/songwriter Josh Galvin, a longtime Summit County resident, hopes to take his music to the next level, which includes a new CD of original music.
As Josh Galvin puts it, he can “splint your leg, sing you a song and sell you a house.”
The Summit County local has been part of the Breckenridge Ski Patrol for more than 20 years, has sold real estate full time for 15 years and, just a couple years ago, he decided to focus on his songwriting and guitar playing more.
“(I thought), ‘How long are you gonna just keep talking about this to yourself,’” Galvin said, explaining his motivation to commit more to his music.
Galvin has played guitar since he was 15, and though he’s self-taught and can’t read a note, that doesn’t mean he’s amateurish.
“He’s a really good lyricist,” said Larry Keen, a former 10-year Summit County resident and musician, who now lives in Denver. “He loves it, and you can tell.”
“His sounds are really big acoustic sounds,” said Chuck Pierce, who helped Galvin record his debut CD. “Basically, it’s so heartfelt — his lyrics in particular.”
Pierce knows how to spot a good musician, as he logged in 30 years on the Los Angeles music scene before moving to Fairplay four years ago. He has regularly played guitar in Broadway orchestras, including “Wicked,” “Les Misérables,” “Miss Saigon,” “Cats” and “Godspell.” He just returned this week from playing “Avenue Q’s” national tour, and now he’s playing for Monty Python’s “Spamalot at Denver’s Buell Theatre.
He and Galvin met a couple years ago while watching Keen play at the Park Avenue Pub. Galvin didn’t realize Pierce was a big-time player when Pierce invited him to record in his home studio. But he soon discovered Pierce has more talent than simply helping local musicians lay down tracks. Pierce’s guitar work gives Galvin’s debut CD more punch.
Lyrically, Galvin’s tunes mainly speak of life in Colorado.
“Colorado is just such a powerful and dramatic place to live,” Galvin said. “I feel more centered here (than in New York City, where he moved from). It lends itself to writing songs.”
Galvin has the gift of being able to translate his personal experiences into touching songs that lack sappy sentiment. His fourth track, “Diana — Flight 1713,” is a loving tribute to his fiancee, who died in flight 1713’s crash in 1987. Another song, “Dressed to Kill,” was inspired by a single mom he knows who is so dedicated to her kids that she seems to be putting her own life on hold. And, he wrote “Bad Boy” in hopes that a country star like Alan Jackson will pick it up someday.
He also has a yet-to-be-released song that captures the spirit of Breckenridge, which he hopes will ultimately become the town’s theme song.
He spent last winter performing to dinner crowds three nights a week at Breckenridge Stables’ sleigh rides, and he’s developing a following at Stella’s Coffeehouse on Pearl Street in Denver. His voice will appear on a new CD called “The Music of Summit County,” which features local artists. It will debut at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12 with performances at the Dillon Amphitheatre. Galvin will also play at the Alma Festival in the Clouds July 18.
“I have no aspirations to be a music star, but I would like a major artist to pick up my songs,” Galvin said. “It’s another language you can speak when you play music. Music adds another dimension to my lifestyle up here.”
The Summit County local has been part of the Breckenridge Ski Patrol for more than 20 years, has sold real estate full time for 15 years and, just a couple years ago, he decided to focus on his songwriting and guitar playing more.
“(I thought), ‘How long are you gonna just keep talking about this to yourself,’” Galvin said, explaining his motivation to commit more to his music.
Galvin has played guitar since he was 15, and though he’s self-taught and can’t read a note, that doesn’t mean he’s amateurish.
“He’s a really good lyricist,” said Larry Keen, a former 10-year Summit County resident and musician, who now lives in Denver. “He loves it, and you can tell.”
“His sounds are really big acoustic sounds,” said Chuck Pierce, who helped Galvin record his debut CD. “Basically, it’s so heartfelt — his lyrics in particular.”
Pierce knows how to spot a good musician, as he logged in 30 years on the Los Angeles music scene before moving to Fairplay four years ago. He has regularly played guitar in Broadway orchestras, including “Wicked,” “Les Misérables,” “Miss Saigon,” “Cats” and “Godspell.” He just returned this week from playing “Avenue Q’s” national tour, and now he’s playing for Monty Python’s “Spamalot at Denver’s Buell Theatre.
He and Galvin met a couple years ago while watching Keen play at the Park Avenue Pub. Galvin didn’t realize Pierce was a big-time player when Pierce invited him to record in his home studio. But he soon discovered Pierce has more talent than simply helping local musicians lay down tracks. Pierce’s guitar work gives Galvin’s debut CD more punch.
Lyrically, Galvin’s tunes mainly speak of life in Colorado.
“Colorado is just such a powerful and dramatic place to live,” Galvin said. “I feel more centered here (than in New York City, where he moved from). It lends itself to writing songs.”
Galvin has the gift of being able to translate his personal experiences into touching songs that lack sappy sentiment. His fourth track, “Diana — Flight 1713,” is a loving tribute to his fiancee, who died in flight 1713’s crash in 1987. Another song, “Dressed to Kill,” was inspired by a single mom he knows who is so dedicated to her kids that she seems to be putting her own life on hold. And, he wrote “Bad Boy” in hopes that a country star like Alan Jackson will pick it up someday.
He also has a yet-to-be-released song that captures the spirit of Breckenridge, which he hopes will ultimately become the town’s theme song.
He spent last winter performing to dinner crowds three nights a week at Breckenridge Stables’ sleigh rides, and he’s developing a following at Stella’s Coffeehouse on Pearl Street in Denver. His voice will appear on a new CD called “The Music of Summit County,” which features local artists. It will debut at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12 with performances at the Dillon Amphitheatre. Galvin will also play at the Alma Festival in the Clouds July 18.
“I have no aspirations to be a music star, but I would like a major artist to pick up my songs,” Galvin said. “It’s another language you can speak when you play music. Music adds another dimension to my lifestyle up here.”
