Joe is originally from North Dakota. After obtaining a BS in Music from North Dakota State University, he joined the US Military Academy Band at West Point, NY. He spent 22 years there, and obtained an MA in Music from Columbia University Teachers College.
He and his family moved to California and he taught choir and piano at Eastlake HS in Chula Vista for 14 years. At the same time he was choir director and pianist at Atonement Lutheran Church. He is currently an accompanist for the Sweetwater Union HS District and Southwestern College.
He has played piano for over 20 musicals, and has been a substitute church musician at Lemon Grove Methodist, National City Methodist, Ascension Lutheran and First Lutheran. He is the accompanist for the San Diego Street Choir and also plays Monday and Friday nights at the Red Fox Room (currently under construction).
He grew up Catholic and his wife Martha was a Methodist, which makes them now Lutherans! Martha spent 35 years working in Military Health Care, even though she is only 29 years old! Their daughter, Hannah, is the Administrator at First Lutheran, and their son, Sam, works in IT for KPBS.