Perpective on Music and Life
About Me
Joe grew up in Northeast Ohio, at age five, he began his musical career as a pianist. After 7 years of diligent practice, private lessons and recitals, he abandoned piano and begged his parents for a guitar after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. His parents kindly consented and Joe bought his first guitar, a $20 Sears Silvertone Acoustic. Joe played in his first rock band (Phase IV) at age 14, with a new Goya Panther electric guitar. The band’s first gig was a charity gig for the Cleveland Society of the Blind. The young, sight-impaired teenagers danced to Phase IV’s music with great enthusiasm and abandon. This experience gave Joe a deep appreciation for being part of a band and connecting with an audience.
Joe graduated from Brush High School in Lyndhurst, Ohio in 1970, by this time he took a break from playing in gigging bands and finished a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Notre Dame in 1974. He completed a degree in Secondary Science Teaching at Cleveland State University in 1975, and then taught science at the middle-school level for three years.
While studying at CSU Joe met some very good musicians from Euclid, Ohio. Joe and his new friends played in local rock bands, which gave him the opportunity to perform and connect again. His still enjoys performing with his Euclid friends.
Joe attended Ohio University from 1981 to 1986, and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry. It was there, in Athens, Ohio, that he first heard Bluegrass music, on the college radio station. This was the beginning of a new musical interest that would inspire Joe to reconnect to playing music for the rest of his life. He moved to St. Louis area for a job after grad school and marriage. Focusing on marriage, family and new job, Joe reduced his musical activities for three years in St. Louis. As one window closes, another opens.
Joe and family moved back to Northeast, Ohio, and connected with old musician friends who were now playing Bluegrass. His friends were playing most of the typical Bluegrass instruments, (acoustic guitar, fiddle , banjo, acoustic bass), except for mandolin. He purchased his first mandolin and commenced to learning a new, for him, instrument. Joe and friends formed a Bluegrass group called “The Light-Fingered Five” and played small gigs and festivals in Northeast, Ohio for several years.
In 2003 Joe moved to the Chicago area for a new job. It was in Chicago that his enthusiasm and connection to music, and Bluegrass in particular, expanded dramatically. Joe became part of the Northern Illinois Bluegrass scene which was very active and welcoming. Joe attended jams and mandolin workshops frequently in order to advance his playing skills. He attended Bluegrass music camps in Tennessee and learned from the top players in the world. Joe became the mandolin player for some of Chicago’s best regional bands, including Bluegrass Escape, and Truman’s Ridge. Joe played mandolin on Truman’s Ridge studio recording entitled “Beyond the Ridge.” In 2019 Joe returned to live in Northeast, Ohio. Now residing in Twinsburg, he can be found attending local jams, festivals, and connecting through music. His latest musical adventure is to perform as a solo singer/guitarist. Joe can be seen playing at local restaurants, venues, and festivals. Joe performs a wide variety of tunes for the solo act, including a Bluegrass number now and then. He loves to connect with people through music, whether playing or listening.