Daily Inspiration: Meet James Gallardo

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Gallardo.

Hi James, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It was when I was 13 or 14 years old, in 2003 I heard Aerosmith’s “Toy’s in the Attic” & Zeppelins’ fourth record, records that both my mom had owned. My first record I ever purchased was “toy’s in the attic.” I started learning music by ear using keyboards and bass guitar influenced by my brother Daniel Gallardo.

I gravitated towards my two younger brothers as we starting playing together first in middle school and early high school trying to establish to cool sound on the bass, learning classic rock and early metal music by ear and tablature. Eventually in 2005, my mom Annette purchased me my first formal bass lessons through a gentlemen in Morro Bay, CA by the name of Jim “Master Guitar” Murphy for over three years, who had a huge influence in my personal life & future professional music life. During the same time between 2005-2008, I spend many hours practicing with a metal band I helped form with my brother Daniel, Garrett Craig, & Kenneth Davis. I loved Baseball early in my youth played every summer through the middle of high school but eventually music took to the for front and I found myself scoring my first few gigs with my metal band “MaelstroM.” After breaking up in 2008, I graduated Morro Bay High School & entered Cuesta College to complete my general education requirements, however I gravitated towards the cuesta college jazz program and the cuesta radio station. I meet a ton of influential colleagues, musicians, engineers & broadcasting developers which lead me to complete my AA in Music Performance and AA in Jazz Studies in 2014.

In between going to Cuesta, I juggled performing with many many artists, musicians, teachers, colleagues, hosting open jams, musical theatre productions, played at over 75 different Paso Robles wineries, performing music mostly locally in the state of CA. Worked with a trio entitled Green to White, we made a record in 2014 with Steve Crimmel from painted sky studios in harmony CA (now located in Cambria, CA). After graduating from Cuesta College, I decided to better my musicianship by attending California Polytechnic University in Fall of 2014 to study classical upright bass. There I went on to meet even more incredible musicians, artists and work as a studio musician for a number of theatre companies in the central coast of California up until now. I’ve always had a strong sense of connection in LA, went to a number of jazz shows and began studying with other core jazz musicians and teachers in the LA area. Would have moved to LA in 2020 if not for covid 19.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was smaller than most boys and men my age and would get teased early on in school, thankfully music and baseball gave me focus and confidence, as I mostly grew up without a father figure for most of my life. Although my family supported me playing music, they did not right away support me as a professional musician. My last real day job I was 21 years old and working for an Italian restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo, I told my mom I quit the job to pursue a performance career. At that time, I was starting to gig more and host open jam sessions. She was livid, but it didn’t stop me from pursuing a career. 

After graduating Cuesta in 2014, at 23 I moved out of my mom’s place, that I paid roughly $300 a month to her since I was 18, and started living inside my 1993 Ford EConoline for six months till I found a place in Los Osos. I slept in my van a lot over the course of that 2014-15 year, crashing outside of colleagues & friend’s houses.’ I’d use the rec center at Cal Poly to shower and such. I also didn’t have very much money and was living basically on $50 a week, I’d use most of it for gas and food. Thankfully, Cal Poly music department ended up paying most of my way and coincidentally ended up making more money as more gig opportunities arose. I’d even stop by my mom’s house to shower from time to time, my first place in Osos I lived at was a garage room, barely paid $400 a month, plenty of house bugs, insects, I barely used any utilities in that first room because money was so tight and the bathroom and shower inside the house itself was complete old and nasty. Was almost better then sleep in my van, but not by very much at all lol.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a commercial-freelance studio & professional musician, primarily a bassist. I’ve played at nearly every music venue on the central coast and given my heart and soul to the community. I’m most proud of the work I’ve achieved for myself as well as with other musicians. What sets me apart from most is have a lot of patience, growing up with my youngest brother who is intellectually disabled, I’ve learned I can work with just about anyone in the artistic community and make any situation better given the roughest circumstances. My dedication and drive set me apart and it’s why I’m one of few people who actually make their living solely on the art of music. I’m enterally grateful for all those who’ve helped me along the journey. 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
iReal Pro app Piano Tuner app Bebot app iDouble Bass app Metronome App Voice Memo App Venmo App Paypal App Square Cash App Messenger App Photo Scan App ***Sibelius music notation software*** Logic Pro X SLO Jazz Federation SLOTALK Podcasting Charlie Shoemake “Playing Be-bop” Book Many many music books Henry David Thoreau – “Walden” Walt Whitman – “Leave of Grass”

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.jamesgallardo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_danger_g/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/james.gallardo.96/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2WTbuHeklFFX8kNbIJL-BQ
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jamesgallardomusic

Image Credits:
All photos by: Brad Hackleman https://www.bradicalphotography.com/