 | Joe appeared on a radio talent show as a child, and his school classmates included Red Rodney and Buddy DeFranco.. His father was a bandleader in the area, giving Joe an example of how to lead a band. By the time he reached his 20s, Joe was playing with many prominent musicians, including Les Hite, Lionel Hampton, and Jimmie Lunceford. In the 1950s, he began to play in Broadway pit orchestras, and the Count Basie Orchestra, touring with Basie in Europe. He appeared on on the ABC television network with Dick Cavett and Jack Paar. In the 60s, he toured the Soviet Union with Benny Goodman, played 1st trumpet in the Symphony of the New World, and worked with Tony Bennett and others. During the 70s, he worked for a time in the New York Philharmonic, and freelanced, playing on soundtracks, commercials, and R&B groups. |
