Joey's history as a musician goes back many years. At four years old, he made his love for music known when he picked up a 2-bass accordion and began playing simple melodies. Formal music training began when he was five. At ten, Joey was playing at picnics and social functions, and at eleven he joined the Ronnie Lee Band. The following year, he made his first record album with Chicago's Roman Possedi.
Joey's thirteenth year was a milestone. He met and started traveling with "America's Polka King," Frank Yankovic, thus beginning an association that would last over 35 years. Yankovic, who had a contract with Columbia Records, took a chance and insisted that Joey be allowed to record with the band. "I think it was that first recording session with Frank that helped make up my mind. I wanted to make music my career."
Between recording at Columbia Studios in Chicago and performing from coast to coast, Joey met some of the biggest names in the music world, all of whom encouraged the youngster to pursue his musical dream.
When he was nineteen, Joey left the Yankovic band and toured with the Hawaii Internationale Revue, entertaining throughout Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Okinawa, and finally ending up in California. A call from Yankovic brought Joey back to the band where he recorded five albums for RCA Records. During this series of recordings, Joey came to Nashville, the town that was to eventually become his home.
Throughout the 70s and early 80s, Joey diversified his career. His reputation as a studio musician and producer grew, and he recorded with celebrities such as Andy Williams, Doc Severenson and Charlie Daniels, as well as with many polka bands throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. He co-hosted Sunday variety shows, a local TV show that aired weekly, and had his own show — Polka Time U.S.A. — which was the second-highest rated show on WCLQ while it aired. In 1985, Joey produced the first polka recording to garner a Grammy: "70 Years Of Hits" with Frank Yankovic.
In 1987, Joey moved to Nashville. "I had recorded over 125 albums and had produced a Grammy-award winner, but I knew if I wanted to stay in the recording business, I would have to move to the largest concentration of recording studios in the world."
That same year, Joey began recording with Riders In The Sky, and after becoming a regular on their NPR "Riders Radio Theater." He became a member of Riders In The Sky producing their multiple Grammy-award winning recordings and performing an average of 185 shows each year including the "Grand Ole Opry" as part of the Opry's favorite cast.
In addition, he oversees other studio and production projects as a respected and sought-after member of the music industry community.
Current projects include writing, producing, and performing songs appearing in Disney's "The Wild" and Disney/Pixar's "Cars."
Latest CD projects include Alan Jackson, Alison Krause, Alabama, and John Prine/Mac Wiseman.
