His roots in music

Laguna musician Kurt Mahoney was born with a passion for music, but it was the emergence of the Beatles in the 1960s, he said, that forever changed his life.

Soon after, it was bands like Cream, the Grateful Dead, Miles Davis, and Bob Marley and the Wailers that expanded his musical interests, and he developed an affinity for Jazz and Reggae.

“It was the groove, melody, intensity of the artists “” all of it,” he said. “Every ounce of my body was completely and utterly captivated.”

Mahoney, who has been writing poetry since 8 and began playing bass guitar just two years later, always felt music was his own calling in life.

“There has been a lot of frustration and discouragement along the way, but something good always happens to bring me back,” he said. “Music isn’t even a matter of choice; it picked me and just took over.

“You start out with certain expectations and when they don’t happen, your goals change,” he said. “But the passion never dies.”

Mahoney recently released two albums, “Conscious Revolution” (with Roots Foundation) and “Where the Heart Is” (solo acoustic) in 2008.

Prior albums were “Phantom Train” with the Blue Rose Band (2005), “Sacred Ground Volumes 1 and 2,” a mix of studio and live performances with Roots Foundation (1998 and 1997) and “Never Going Back” with then-band Eyes of the World (1990).

Nowadays, Mahoney is known in Orange County for his solo acoustic folk/blues/rock performances, as well as Reggae sessions with his band, Roots Foundation.

Both sides of his musical performances are intended to spread “peace, love, brotherhood and all that hippie stuff.”

“I address issues I want to see changed in the world and aim to spread peace,” Mahoney said. “If I’m able to turn someone on to a positive thought or just uplift them for a moment in life, then I’ve met my ultimate goal.”

He admits some of his songs are autobiographical, but prefers to leave most of his lyrics open for interpretation.

Mahoney was born in Chicago and relocated to Sheboygan, Wis., with his mother at 2, where he would spend part of his adolescence and initiate his music career. The other half would be spent in Oklahoma City, Okla., where he would attempt to take his career even further.

“I finally realized it wasn’t happening there,” he said. “So in 1987, I moved to SoCal and I’ve been here ever since.”

For the past 22 years, he’s enjoyed quite a ride touring with various bands including Mo Dn Irie, and performing with major Reggae acts including Joe Higgs, Jimmy Cliff and Andrew Tosh.

He even spent a few months performing in France and England with well-known performer, Ras Michael.

When he’s not making music, Mahoney enjoys music photography, videography, tennis, yoga, ocean swimming and giving private guitar lessons.

Some of his photographic works have been displayed in magazines including Relix, Reggae Report and the Beat, and on album covers for Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer.

Mahoney and Roots Foundation will perform from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at Kobe Japanese Steak House in Seal Beach.

The band also does private parties and events.

To make an appointment for a lesson or to book the band, call (949) 497-1523.