John Borra is a Canadian musician from Toronto, Ontario, who performed as a supporting musician in punk and alternative rock bands in the 1980s and early 1990s before launching a career as an alternative country singer-songwriter.Jason Schneider, "Change of hat; Licensed Toronto busker John Borra goes from punk to country gentleman". Waterloo Region Record, March 21, 2000.
Background Borra began his career as bassist in the band A Neon Rome."Neon Rome album wasn't built in a day". Toronto Star, July 3, 1987. After that band broke up during the recording of its second album, he played with bands such as Change of HeartJennie Punter, "12 years along, Change Of Heart comes of age T.O.'s foremost indie squad primed for major touring". Toronto Star, December 29, 1004. and Groovy Religion in the 1990s, as well as appearing as a session musician on albums by Crash VegasTom Harrison, "Toronto's Crash Vegas raw but also refined". The Province, June 1, 1995. and Scott B. Sympathy.Jennie Punter, "'Electrified' Scott B.'s latest unit is more Sympathetic than ever". Toronto Star, May 20, 1993.
Solo career In 1997, he independently released a self-titled cassette featuring his first foray into country songwriting.Jason Schneider, "John Borra returns with tribute to Toronto’s forgotten songwriters and reissue of debut solo cassette". Roots Music Canada, October 21, 2022. This was later reissued on compact disc and online music stores in 2022.
He then formed the John Borra Band with Steve Koch, Colleen Hodgson and Cleave Anderson; this lineup released a self-titled album in 1999, and followed up in 2002 with One Night at Seven in the Morning.Greg Quill, "John Borra Band: One Night at Seven in the Morning". Toronto Star, April 20, 2002.
Rattlesnake Choir He subsequently launched the new band Rattlesnake Choir, with members including Sam Ferrara, Michael Boguski, Tony Benattar, and Miranda Mulholland, originally for a regular club residency at The Dakota Tavern.Ben Rayner, "Ben Rayner's Reasons to Live". Toronto Star, April 24, 2011.
This lineup released the album Live Music in 2008,Kerry Doole, "Rattlesnake Choir, Live Music". Exclaim!, March 23, 2008. following up with Walkin' the Wire in 2011,Kerry Doole, "Rattlesnake Choir, Walkin' the Wire". Exclaim!, April 22, 2011. and The Prospector's Curse in 2015.Sarah Murphy, "Rattlesnake Choir Fall Under 'The Prospector's Curse' on New LP, Premiere First Single". Exclaim!, August 12, 2015.
Return to solo music He subsequently returned to recording and releasing music under his own name, releasing the album Blue Wine in 2020.Jason Schneider, "John Borra set to return with new album Blue Wine; shares first single ‘Trace in the Wind’". Roots Music Canada, December 13, 2019. The album's lead single "Trace in the Wind" was a tribute to actress Tracy Wright.
In 2022, he released Cassettes in Common, an album covering songs by various songwriters who Borra had looked up to as friends and influences, including Keith Whittaker, Bob Snider, Handsome Ned, Art Bergmann, Kyp Harness, and Ron Sexsmith."John Borra Album Shines A Light On An Epoch Of Toronto Songsmiths". Billboard, February 1, 2023.
His latest album Last Dance at the E Room, a tribute to friend and colleague Peter J. Moore following Moore's death in 2023, was released in October 2025.Alex Hudson, "John Borra Celebrates Toronto Studio with 'Last Dance at the E Room' Album". Exclaim!, July 8, 2025.
Discography
Solo John Borra - 1997 Blue Wine - 2020 Cassettes in Common - 2022 Last Dance at the E Room - 2025
John Borra Band John Borra Band - 1999 One Night at Seven in the Morning - 2002
Rattlesnake Choir Live Music - 2008 Walkin' the Wire - 2011 The Prospector's Curse - 2015
References
External links