Joe Vannelli

Joe Vannelli
Background information
Born (1950-12-28) 28 December 1950 (age 73)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
GenresPop rock, soft rock, jazz, blue-eyed soul, funk
OccupationMusician
InstrumentKeyboards
Years active1973–present

Joe Vannelli (born 28 December 1950) is a Canadian musician, composer and record producer. He was credited on most records of his brother, Gino Vannelli, and in collaboration with youngest brother Ross Vannelli, the three have won many awards.

Vannelli studied music theory in Montreal, and learned to play piano. He was influenced by artists like Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck and Erroll Garner. During the seventies he developed an interest in electronic instruments; he was one of the early synthesizer players. He contributed to most of Gino's albums as a composer, producer, arranger, programmer and engineer.

Apart from his work with Gino and Ross, he has been credited by many artists like Chaka Khan, Eartha Kitt, Gary Morris, David Meece, Kudasai, Marilyn Scott, Jimmy Haslip, REO Speedwagon, Brenda Russell, Pat Thomi, Don Sebesky, Kit Chan, Bill Meyers, Gianni Bella and Glenn Jones.

Musical career

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Gino and Joe moved to Los Angeles in 1972. Desperate and broke, they waited for hours in the parking lot outside A&M Studios, hoping to get a record deal. When Herb Alpert, the co-owner of A&M Records, finally emerged, Vannelli ran toward him and gave him a demo tape while being chased by security guards.[1] Alpert signed Vannelli and released his debut album, Crazy Life, in the summer of 1973.[2]

Gino and Joe Vannelli in Amsterdam, 1977

For most of Gino's career, Joe was his keyboard player and arranger. In the early 70's Joe would overdub most of the multiple keyboard parts to create that certain progressive sound of the early 1970s. This was a time when polyphonic synthesizers weren't around.[3]

Along with Gino, he co produced the 1986 Chronology album for David Meece which was released on Myrrh Records and co wrote "Seventy Times Seven" and "Come That Day".[4] Vannelli and Burton Cummings co-produced Cummings's 2008 album Above the Ground which was the first album release for Cummings in approximately 18 years.[5]

In 2007 he co-produced Find Your Own Way Home for REO Speedwagon.

In 2009 he produced Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon for REO Speedwagon.[6]

Vannelli has won six Juno Awards and was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including one for best arrangement.[7] One Juno award was for Recording Engineer of the Year. This was shared with his other brother Ross for "Black Cars" that appeared on Gino Vannelli's album of the same name.[8][9][10] The following year more awards came for "Wild Horses" and "Young Lover".[10]

Today, Joe Vannelli has a studio in Agoura Hills, California called Blue Moon Studios.[7]

Selected discography

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As sideman

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With Jimmy Haslip

  • Red Heat (2000)
  • Nightfall (Vie Records, 2010)[11]

References

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  1. ^ Valcourt, Keith (20 December 2016). "Gino Vannelli, singer of hit 'I Just Wanna Stop' on new live album and DVD". The Washington Times. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  2. ^ Nowlin, Rick (19 May 2014). "Gino Vannelli says fans keep him moving forward". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Proudly Canadian: Gino Vannelli". Cashbox Canada Magazine. April 2, 2014. ISSN 0008-7289.
  4. ^ David Meece – Chronology at Discogs
  5. ^ "Burton Cummings Biography". Historica Canada. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  6. ^ "REO Speedwagon Releases First-of-its-Kind Rock Music Video Game". IGN. December 2, 2009.
  7. ^ a b Gennet, Robbie; Perdomo, Fernando (May 3, 2012). "An Afternoon With Joe Vannelli". Keyboard. ISSN 0730-0158.
  8. ^ LaPointe, Kirk (October 12, 1985). "Canada International: Adams, Hart, Gowan Grab More Juno Nominations". Billboard. p. 71. ISSN 0006-2510.
  9. ^ Shasho, Ray (November 11, 2012). "Exclusive Interview with international superstar Gino Vannelli". The Examiner.
  10. ^ a b Wolf, Ronald (June 16, 2010). "Gino Vannelli". The Algoma News.
  11. ^ Jimmy Haslip featuring Joe Vannelli – Nightfall at Discogs
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