To put it as succinctly as possible, Jesse Valenzuela loves music.

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“Ever since I was a kid, music has had a hold on me – and one of the great blessings of my life is that I’ve been able to keep a hold on music.”

 

And then some.

 

As a founding member of Tempe, Arizona’s melodic, melancholic Gin Blossoms, Jesse Valenzuela has climbed a musical mountain.

 

For more than three decades, Jesse has provided the multi-platinum group with hit songs (“Til I Hear It From You,” “Follow You Down,” “Mrs. Rita”), masterful guitar playing and exquisite harmony singing. And, historically, the Gin Blossoms have been true road warriors, often playing more than 150 shows a year.

 

But for Jesse Valenzuela, music isn’t just a career, it’s a calling.

 

Solo artist, producer, session musician, film and television composer -- all part of answering music’s call.

 

On those rare nights when the Gin Blossoms aren’t on the road, you might find Jesse playing in a Phoenix-area pub, delighting audiences with Gin Blossoms classics and dipping into his deep bag of rock, folk, country, blues and flamenco favorites. Chances are you may hear him covering the Monkees’ “Daydream Believer,” and confiding: “This is my sister’s favorite song.”

 

An artist in love with music.

 

The road stretches out and the beat goes on.

 

As Jesse once wrote: “Some rides don't have much of a finish/That's the ride I took.”