When Hoboken native John-Joe Michael Roarty quietly played his guitar at a local music shop, a 16-year-old budding musician came up to him, impressed. The young musician asked Roarty for advice, as well as a few free pointers. Roarty, who produces music out of the small home studio of his best friend and project director Albert Burgos in Jersey City, said that while he was able to show the young musician a few tricks, he embarked on his own journey after the conversation.
For more information about Roarty’s music and his production company, visit SoulandEmotion.com.
________
Roarty had heard about the bout and observed at the Long Island store as a spectator. He found himself intrigued by the competition, and said afterward that he would one day sign up for a competition. Little did he know that he would one day become a national champion.
Roarty said one competitor in the store’s contest who had heard him playing earlier said he was “so glad [Roarty] was a spectator” and not a competitor.
The journey to a championship
Roarty saw an advertisement for the “Sam Ash Best in Shred” competition at a guitar store and decided to sign up.
Roarty’s competition was made up of 14 other guitarists, and the winner would advance to a regional competition in New York City.
The musician and Christian minister decided to take a chance and enter.
He won the local competition. Then, it was on to the regional competition at the 48th Street Sam Ash store in midtown Manhattan
.The New York contest launched him to the final round in Cerritos, Calif. The winner of the national championship would have the opportunity to perform with Steve Vai, a Grammy Award winning musician, as well as receive $20,000 in guitar gear.
“Now, [after the regional competition] we got all the perks,” Roarty said. Roarty and Burgos both made their way to California for the contest, as it was his first time visiting.
Roarty said the competitors he faced off against were all “tremendous,” but was impressed by one competitor in particular, Jared Hira, who was blind. Roarty knew the circumstances, but wasn’t worried.
“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Roarty said.
He took the stage in front of six famed judges.
Roarty said his set had some technical difficulties, but he played on despite the challenges.
“[One of the judges] said it was like I was in my own little world, just playing right through,” Roarty said.
He must have done something right, as he was declared the national winner.
In addition to the $20,000 in gear and opportunity to play with Vai, Roarty also won a “one of a kind” custom guitar, which he says he was told is valued at around $8,000.
Working in Jersey City
Videos of Roarty’s guitar playing are featured on YouTube, as well as the Sam Ash website. However, he’s hoping to do more with the fame than just be featured in a few videos.
Roarty, who attended Hoboken High School but moved to Long Island while still a teenager, said he has showcased his talent at music shows, including briefly in an off-Broadway play. But he’s hoping to provide a platform for musicians who he competed against in the contest.
He said he’s stayed in touch with the competitors, and is hoping through SoundScape Services, his production company, that he’s able to once again play with them. He said he thought the contests would be extremely competitive, but he was able to make friends along the way.
Burgos and Roarty met as musicians more than 20 years ago when they were in a top-40’s group. Roarty channels his religion through everyday conversation. And although he has nationally recognized skills with the guitar, he said it’s not his best instrument.
“If God put me here to play one instrument, it would be the soprano sax,” he said.
Although he’s modest about his winning, he said he’s climbed over “a celebrity wall,” and is looking forward to his performance with Vai.
The national champion guitarist works out of a small apartment in Jersey City. If that 16-year-old kid didn’t ask for advice, maybe Roarty wouldn’t have even known about the guitar competitions. And his talents may have been left untapped.
For more information about Roarty’s music and his production company, visit SoulandEmotion.com.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com