Isaias Gamboa's dedication to serving the poor and needy is rooted in his faith-based background and beliefs. Born in San José, Costa Rica to parents of Spanish and African ancestry, Isaias was born of maternal Jewish lineage but raised in Christian Baptist and Catholic traditions -being the respective religious backgrounds of his parents. He describes himself as a follower of the teachings of Jesus Christ and student of the Holy Bible. He believes that love, kindness and compassion for the poor and needy are the only true measures of divine faith, obedience and discipleship.
Throughout his childhood, Isaias traveled to many countries with his family, where he witnessed his parents demonstrate their faith in God through acts of love, kindness and compassion to those in need. Since then, he has traveled to nine Latin American countries in expression of his own devotion to the poor, needy, abused, disenfranchised and marginalized. In war and drug-ravaged regions he has had automatic weapons held to his head. -Experiences he describes as "life-affirming".
In 2010, while in Brazil to donate toys and clothing to the poor, Isaias formed a strong relationship with three orphanages. These bonds would form the basis for the founding and organization of the, We Shall Overcome Foundation.
In addition to these pursuits, Isaias was blessed with a 30-year career as a recording artist, award winning music-producer, music-publisher, songwriter, recording engineer, musician and arranger. He has served as a voting member of the Grammy® organization and written more than 200 songs with Grammy® and multiple RIAA® Platinum and Gold awards to his credit. He is also a 37-year member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
In 2012 Isaias authored the book, "We Shall Overcome: Sacred Song on the Devil's Tongue". He also produced an accompanying self-narrated, dramatized 4-CD audio-book. This book and audio books are difinitive comprehensive guides on the true history of the globally revered protest anthem, "We Shall Overcome". The book is also a biography of, Louise Shropshire--the song's previously unrecognized author and explores the historical attitudes of Black-exploitation, subjugation and racism in America by non culture-bearers.
He has also achieved success as a licensed California real estate broker, licensed Christian minister, certified carpenter, certificated high school teacher and licensed competitive youth soccer coach. He continues to devote quality time to humanitarian efforts in the US, Brazil and Costa Rica.
In 2016 he led a landmark class-action lawsuit that sought to free the civil rights anthem, We Shall Overcome from the illegitimate control and exploitation of The Richmond Organization (TRO) - a powerful music publishing company that had claimed control of the African American hymn for nearly 60 years. In January of 2018, TRO was forced to pay nearly 2-million dollars in legal fees and relinquish all rights to the song, which is now in the public domain.
