San Diego Reader

Christopher Sluka: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric), Vocals

Genre: Rock

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Background:

Singer-songwriter Christopher Sluka’s first two albums were released in Japan by Meldac Records, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi, while his third album was recorded for CGD, an Italian branch of Time-Warner. “After that, all my music has come out through my own Steel Flower Music label,” says Sluka, “which has different distribution deals throughout the world.”

In 1994, Sluka bought PB’s Javanican Coffeehouse, soon opening a Mission Beach branch where he also regularly performed. He recently sold the operation to local drummer Patrick Watson, a.k.a. Max Slyder. “I had the coffee biz for 15 years, with many ups and downs,” says Sluka. “During the last few years, I was inspired to make a new album, and the coffeehouse was in need of more and more attention. Something had to give.”

Other time demands include his job as assistant chief instructor for National Air College, Montgomery Field, where he’s an FAA gold-seal-certified flight instructor, with a commercial pilot’s license and over 3000 hours of flight time.

“I have yet to fly myself to a distant gig,” he says, “if only because I haven’t acquired an airplane large enough to carry all the heavy equipment. Still working on that one.”