Gregory Alan Isakov

Biography

Gregory Alan Isakov (born October 19, 1979) is a South African musician currently based in Boulder, Colorado. Isakov and his family immigrated to the United States in 1986 and he was raised in Philadelphia.
Isakov's music combines indie and folk, featuring instruments such as the guitar and banjo. He is widely known for the songs "Words," "The Stable Song," "Big Black Car," "If I Go, I'm Goin' " and "San Luis." Isakov has released seven albums. His most recent album, Appaloosa Bones×Appaloosa Bones18 August 2023 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Fall3:282Before the Sun2:493Appaloosa Bones3:594Silver Bell3:255Watchman3:196Miles to Go3:047Terlingua3:108Mistakes3:239One Day2:4210Sweet Heat Lightning4:4611Feed Your Horses3:32, was released on August 18, 2023.

Life and career

Isakov's grandfather was a Lithuanian Jew who fled to South Africa during World War II. Isakov was born in Johannesburg on October 19, 1979. He immigrated with his family to the United States in 1986 because his father Nissen started an electronic engineering business in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia, he began touring with a band at the age of 16. Isakov later moved to Colorado to study horticulture at Naropa University. Isakov had played instruments his whole life, but began a life as a professional musician playing occasional gigs while also working as a gardener. His musical career became more serious when he began touring with Kelly Joe Phelps.
In 2003, Isakov self-released his first album Rust Colored Stones×Rust Colored Stones2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Februrary3:092Morning Lady4:343Old Friend4:2645 O'Clock Shadow1:095Only Ghosts3:116Arms in the Air4:307Black Hills3:108Gentle Is You2:089Won't Last Long2:3910Tin Can Roses3:22. In 2005, he self-released Songs for October. In 2007, he self-released That Sea, the Gambler. Later that year, he was named Best Male Songwriter by Colorado magazine Westword. In 2009, Isakov self-released This Empty Northern Hemisphere which featured vocals by Brandi Carlile on five tracks and a cover of Leonard Cohen's "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong". In 2013, Isakov created his independent label Suitcase Town Music on which he released The Weatherman.
In 2016, Isakov released Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony, an album of eleven of his earlier songs orchestrated by several composers and recorded with the full Colorado Symphony. On October 5, 2018, he released Evening Machines on his Suitcase Town Music label.
Isakov has been influenced by the music of Leonard Cohen, Gillian Welch, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine and Bruce Springsteen.
Acclaimed for his lyrics, his music often explores themes such as nature, introspection, and personal experiences within the folk and indie genres. He has played at many music festivals around the United States, Canada and Europe. At these music festivals, Isakov has shared the stage with numerous touring artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Murdoch and Fiona Apple.
In November 2019, Isakov's album Evening Machines×Evening Machines5 October 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Berth4:532San Luis4:323Southern Star2:194Powder3:125Bullet Holes3:306Was I Just Another One2:577Caves4:498Chemicals3:209Dark, Dark, Dark2:5910Too Far Away3:2411Where You Gonna Go4:0112Wings in All Black3:43 was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
The song "Big Black Car" from the 2009 album This Empty Northern Hemisphere×This Empty Northern Hemisphere15 May 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Dandelion Wine3:052Light Year3:383That Moon Song3:344Evelyn3:315Virginia May2:586Big Black Car3:377Master & A Hound3:028This Empty Northern Hemisphere5:009Idaho4:4310Words4:0211Fire Escape1:3312If I Go, I'm Goin4:2713One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong4:55 was featured in a 2012 McDonald's commercial. Isakov donated the proceeds to non-profit organizations that help further sustainable farming and nurture community.
While simultaneously maintaining his music career throughout the years, Isakov has been the owner and operator of Starling Farm in Boulder County, Colorado since its purchase in 2014. Described as "a six-acre farm focused on small-scale, bio-intensive market gardening", Starling Farms not only supplies fresh produce to local chefs, it hosts Isakov's personal recording studio where he recorded his 2023 album Appaloosa Bones×Appaloosa Bones18 August 2023 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Fall3:282Before the Sun2:493Appaloosa Bones3:594Silver Bell3:255Watchman3:196Miles to Go3:047Terlingua3:108Mistakes3:239One Day2:4210Sweet Heat Lightning4:4611Feed Your Horses3:32.