Jack Gaffney is a 16-year-old singer, songwriter, composer, musician, performer, high school student and rock climber. Jack began playing piano and writing songs at the age of four. Jack performs his piano driven original songs along with inspired arrangements of rock, pop and blues covers, at regional and national venues.
Jack has been chosen by the Colorado Blues Society to represent his state as a youth performer at the International Blues Competition in Memphis in January 2014.
Jack has twice received scholarships from the Pinetop Perkins Foundation to attend its master keyboard workshop in Clarksdale, Mississippi. At the workshops, Jack studied with piano blues masters Erwin Helfer and David Maxwell. Bob Margolin, a blues guitar great who played in Muddy Waters band for years, also worked with Jack. The workshops culminated with jams at the legendary Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, owned by actor Morgan Freeman.
On several occasions, Jack has performed with world-renowned blues artist Otis Taylor. Jack has worked with Otis at his Trance Blues Workshops in Boulder.
Jack recorded his first CD at the age of 12. “Nothing to be Afraid Of” was produced by Carter Pann, a Grammy nominated composer and long time mentor.
In November of 2011 Jack recorded an EP “Mask” at the private studio of Michael McDonald just outside of Nashville.
In April, 2011, Jack won runner up for best songwriter at the Swallow Hill Young Songwriters Competition. He performed his original song, “Something More.” Competing against teens from all over Colorado, Jack was the only middle school finalist.
In 2009, Jack was twice invited to Broadway for final auditions for the role of Michael Banks in Disney’s Mary Poppins. He caught the attention of a Disney talent scout after she saw him perform Coldplay’s “Lost”. He received the invitations despite having no acting experience.
Last year Jack was selected “Freshman of The Year” at Boulder High School. He also studies music theory at the University of Colorado. He has composed works for full orchestra and jazz ensembles. Jack is also a competitive rock climber; his specialty is “bouldering.”
