Seeing in the Dark by Kate Borkowski

I knew in grade school, when he would swing by Madison Elementary to pick me up for a quick pepperoni personal pan at Pizza Hut, that he was a special dad, but when I saw him teach at ND, it floored me. I had no idea what an incredible teacher he is.

when did you start singing/playing music?

I always loved to sing. I remember being four or five and listening to John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" as the nine of us headed out on a seven hour trip to go camping at the Lelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan, packed into a crowded Dodge Ram (believe me, the trip was worth it). I started singing along in the van, and I guess I never really stopped. Since then, I've been fascinated by melodies.

A college friend gave me a beautiful guitar, but I didn't know how to play, so I didn't. The guitar gathered dust until I started listening to Ben Harper my junior year. I loved his songs so much that I decided to learn to play guitar. The very first song I ever learned was "Waiting on an Angel", which remains one of my favorites. I can remember playing it for an audience for the first time in the back seat of my folks' Toyota Avalon. Only parents can sit through those kind of performances. But I kept practicing, and I started to write my own songs, too. Rumor has it that they actually like hearing me play guitar these days.

who are your favorite musicians?

Ben Harper is my favorite. He has an incredible ability to speak the often harsh truths of this world and still make it sound so beautiful; he is an amazing songwriter, weaving a powerful message into each song. Jack Johnson, for many of the same reasons. Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bob Dylan. Beethoven and Mozart. I love Nick Drake and Bill Withers. Kermit Ruffins, a fine, local New Orleans trumpeter. Getz & Gilberto because they are just so smooth. Nina Simone. Paul Simon. The Blind Boys of Alabama because their soulful voices haunt me. James Taylor. I love the stories that Tracy Chapman tells. The Notre Dame Glee Club. Ottmar Liebert, German classical guitarist. And, of course, the revolution infused music of Bob Marley. And countless others, including my brother Matt, who is my favorite baritone voice.

what type of music do you play?

I'm not sure. Hopefully, good music. Or true music, maybe. I try to avoid labels; they usually detract from and distract from those things that they label. I don't think I've ever met a label that I liked.

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