Singer, songwriter Joe Virga
ON THE SPOT
_BY CARL-JOHN X _VERAJA Florida Weekly Correspondent

VIRGA

Just like learning to drive in a crowded city might improve one's skills for life, so might learning to entertain while training Marines. Joe Virga took up guitar on a helicopter carrier during the Vietnam era on USS Guadalcanal LPH-7 and returned to New York City's Greenwich Village to become a folk singer, playing at Folk City (Gurdies). This venue also featured Susan Vega, Rod McDonald and Michelle Shocked among others. He has played and toured with many famous musicians: T Bone Wolk (Hall & Oats), G.E. Smith (SNL Band), Gary Brooker (Procal Harem), Mark Reveria (Billy Joel's sax player), Buck Dharma (BOC), Buddy Miles (Jimmy Hendrix Band of Gypsies) and Joey Stann (South Side Johnny).

He became a regular at the Indigo Room on Open Mike Night on Wednesdays. You can find out more at darkwatersound. com where links are included to articles about Virga. You can sample his sounds at myspace.com/joevirga.

FW: Where are you a native and how long have you been a local?

JV: I've been here four years. I came right before Hurricane Charley.

FW: I remember that so vividly. So, that brought you here, somehow?

JV: No. I came here and Charley decided to join me.

FW: Did you take that as a sign you made the right choice?

JV: Yeah, it was like stepping in…you know.

FW: How long have you been a singer/ songwriter?

JV: I've been around since the 70's. Virga listed some people he played with and said they all came out of Speakeasy.

FW: What street was that on?

JV: 107 MacDougal St.

FW: OK, I know it. I used to live in New York City.

JV: I lived there from '84 to '86 - about two years.

FW: As far as being a songwriter, did you sell songs to anyone?

JV: My story goes like this. I got married in '84. Next year my wife passed away. I had to raise two kids for about 15 years. Then, my sister-in-law got sick with MS. I had to take care of her. Then, a few years after that my mother had dementia. I had to take care of her. For 37 years I worked down on Wall St. So, I had to stay home and watch my kids. I played locally in New York and no further.

FW: What are you planning on doing in the future?

JV: Open Mike for now. I'm playing at Calusafest on March 8th,…it'll be in Centennial Park. You can look it up at CalusaFest. org.

FW: What's your favorite guitar?

JV: I have vintage guitars. Right now, I'm playing the Tacoma. I've also got a anniversary-reissue Les Paul…I've got a lot of specialty guitars.