Gord Getzinger was influenced not by just the music he grew up with (Tommy Hunter, Rush, Steve Earle, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Flatt & Scruggs) but his mother, Twyla, who raised in a religious home where her sisters would sing and play piano.  She ended up not only teaching Gord the G, C, and D chords on a guitar, she taught Albert (Gord’s father) how to play. 

Although Gord was given the chance at guitar lessons, he skipped out on them and became self-taught.  He meets two guys in high school-Robin James Orlesky and Ronald Woods. They start a band, and eventually go on the road and find themselves playing six nights a week in smokey bars. 

Getzinger was writing songs in the mid-80’s, having no interest in his studies in college in Calgary and decides to leave to work in Alberta’s oil patch which meant “very shitty jobs while still writing songs.” 

At the height of his gigging he says, “I love it all. East Coast Canadian music and artists are amazing. East coast artist JP Cormier (Lord of The Strings) and Lenny Galant (album went around the world many times in the space shuttle) only two I have had the pleasure of playing with and seeing many more.  Meeting them though fiends Scott Kupsh and his uncle George Hart who both are amazing musicians/singers. I had a played in a band with Scott and played many times with uncle George. Playing in many bands over including Bluegrass, Country and Party.” 

He then fronted Gordie and Moonlighters with Scott Kupsh only for his music career to succumb to making money.  He meets his wife of 23 years, Nina, around that time. “Nina has been behind me the whole time. Putting up with me and my music friends being so loud, drunk and nights alone. I had the studio in our basement it worked for awhile but Nina love me writing songs and recording so much she and others could not stay out of the basement…I love her with all my heart.” 

Besides the many jobs he had in Alberta, he becomes partners with five other people and become quite successful.  After he conquered business, he decided to return to music. 

He says regarding his decision to return to music: “I then started too concentrate more on my music and went out to get some musicians and get rid of the canned shit on my recordings. At this time Nina and I were wintering in Palm Springs, California where I searched for other musicians to jam and do original songs with. Not much luck until one night at our resort Nina, my wife now of 23 years, heard a name and she was over moon “ Jann Browne” who her and her close friend Joan (Grandma Grouch R.I.P.) would listen to her while driving school bus and having lunch singing along to Mexican Wind. She was so happy to meet Jann. I started to play with Jann Browne and Matthew Barnes when they would invite me. They did and I could play my original songs with them. All of their music friends also invited me to play and sing with them. It was great. Then Jann and Matt got the BrowneBarne Ranch in Yucca Valley, California. Wow! Jann & Matt had a venue for live music and Nina and loved to be there. Jann & Matt liked my music, heard some of my demos. They had turned the BrowneBarne into recording studio and Matt asked and said Jann & him loved the originals and would like to help with my demos. Poor Matt- we worked on Alberts Last Whiskey for months while Jann and Matt got me the most amazing man “E” Ian to record, Matt production and musicians that are over the moon.” 

And the product became Gord Getzinger’s debut album, Albert’s Last Whiskey.  The Americana artist says, “My role a musician has changed over the years, I am so Happy to meet Jann and Matt they have changed my life in music. It is so satisfying to have my songs finished professionally. I respect all musicians and love song writers. I still have songs to finish and have found out the more you put the more you get. All the friends I have met in California right now I am amazed and humbled by all of them, can’t wait to play and see all of them again. This is what drives me as an artist.” 

Gord Getzinger divides his time between a small town, Drayton Valley in Alberta, Canada and Palm Springs, California. He loves his “family Nina, Chris (Grand babies) my sisters and I do love some who don’t love me.”