Don't worry kids, Daddy Rocker 'Ain't Gonna Give Up!'

By Junico Simino

Bruce Springsteen. John Mellencamp. Sting.

These are just a few of the names that Brooklyn-bred musician Tom Moran has been compared to.

Moran, who recently adapted the moniker Daddy Rocker, is one of the few country-rock-blues acts based in Brooklyn.

With his second full length album, ”Ain’t Gonna Give Up,” just released earlier this year, Moran still finds the time to work as a teacher at P.S. 12 in Bushwick.

“[The] kids keep you young, keep you honest,” said Moran about his biggest critics, who also came up with the stage name Daddy Rocker.

Moran explained that his songs are a reflection of his life, which has seen its fair share of ups and downs.

Born and raised in Canarsie, Moran always loved music growing up. He cites Bobby Darin as one of his early influences, but never received any formal training until his older sister and uncle showed him a few chord patterns on the guitar.

It was during his time at Canarsie High School that Moran started to find another escape from reality when he began to drink heavily.

All throughout college Moran, who’s a graduate of Kingsborough Community College and Brooklyn College, found himself growing more and more dependent on alcohol, which eventually consumed his life. At 25, Moran decided to seek help through a recovery program and has been sober ever since.

“I have been clean and sober for over 19 years now!” said Moran, 44, proudly.

It was during this time that he began to take music much more seriously as well, dropping “Starting Over,” his first full length release, in 2004, which dealt with becoming sober and receiving a second chance on life.

His new release, Moran describes, is about not giving up on life, with the central theme about heartbreak, and not being able to find true love.

“Love isn’t going to find me, no matter what I do,” said Moran, describing his new single, “Just for Today.”

Other tracks on the album include “Dyin’ For You,” “I Love Jesus,” which is a big hit with his students, “No Big Deal,” and the title track “Ain’t Gonna Give Up.”

Moran explains that his “connection to Brooklyn is everything. It inspires me.

“The people in Brooklyn are beautiful. Wherever I go I bring Brooklyn with me,” he added.

Future projects for Moran include a PBS special, “Tom Moran Live,” which will be taping in late fall, performances around the country, a new album scheduled for a summer 2010 release, and, of course, his other passion in life: teaching.

“I just want to do something good if I can,” said Moran.

Tom Moran plays Vox Pop (1022 Cortelyou Rd.) on July 31 at 9 p.m. For more information, call 718-940-2084.