now and forever, in Austin Texas. The son of musicians, he started playing piano at eight and, when The Beatles came on the scene, guitar at ten. Early on he was influenced by the AM radio playlists of his youth; The Beatles and other British Invasion bands, The Beach Boys, R&B and soul acts like The Drifters, James Brown, and Otis Redding. But Joe was especially and increasingly drawn to the sounds of bands like The Byrds, Bob Dylan, The Band, Buffalo Springfield; acts that incorporated traditional country music styles and instrumentation in their work, and writers whose lyrics seemed more real and often more meaningful than those of their pop\rock counterparts. Over the years he worked in rock/R&B bands as a keyboardist and lead singer, as a jazz pianist/vocalist, and in country bands. But through it all he has continued developing his version of American roots music, singing, playing and writing that draws from all corners of the American poular music world. No wonder his music brings to mind the work of so many diverse artists - Tom Waits, John Prine, Fred Eaglesmith and Ted Hawkins, to name but a few. Currently Joe is playing solo gigs and also performing with the Gee-Men, a stellar rhythm section consisting of Steve Strickland on 5-string bass and Charlie Gnerre, percussion. And, as if that wasn't enough, he's also been fronting his new three-piece 'jug' band, Joe Gee and The Boomer Busters, with Beth 'Boomer' Bray on harmonica and percussion, and Buster Gutbucket on the washtub bass. Joe's debut Americana/Roots CD, "Gee Joe" was released on the Fourth of July, 2006. He enlisted several roots music standouts to contribute to this project, including the amazing guitarist Redd Volkaert, Noel McKay of The McKay Brothers, Dan Walsh, dobro and guitar wizard and former member of Fred Eaglesmith's band, and the late, great Harry Kleintank on tenor and soprano saxes. About the CD, Joe says, "I waited a long time to do this. I probably wanted the perfect songs, the perfect musicians, the perfect studio. Then one day I woke up and said to myself, 'I've waited long enough already. I've got the material, the players, and a great place to record (Flashpoint Studios, an Austin stalwart since the 1980's). Quit wasting time - just go do it.' So I did." The CD, self- produced and mastered by Jerry Tubb at Terra Nova Studios in Austin, has been well-received and has been the topic of several glowing reviews. |
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