Contact Joe Wood

My name is Joseph Wood — but you can call me Joe!

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A little about me: I was born on March 28, 1979, and grew up in central Illinois. My first experience with music was in my mother’s arms as she danced with me while Islands in the Stream by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton played on the stereo. I’ll never forget that moment — her embrace, the joy, and the emotion of that song have stayed with me ever since. Love you, Mom!

 

I have a sister who’s three years older than me. We grew up with music woven into the very fabric of our lives. Whether it was on FM radio, cassette tapes, or blaring through speakers at the skating rink, the music of the ’80s played a massive role in shaping our social, emotional, and personal identities. From Bon Jovi to Prince, and from movie soundtracks like Footloose, Purple Rain, and Vision Quest, popular music poured into our youth in so many positive ways. Whenever a favorite song came on in the car, my sister would look back at me from the front seat and open her mouth wide as if to say, “I love this song!”

 

I remember taking two stereo speakers — those black-box-looking rectangles with the soft fabric covers — placing one on each ear and cranking up songs like We Will Rock You by Queen and Separate Ways by Journey. Funny enough, I don’t recall my parents ever breaking down the door or telling me it was too loud. For some reason, they never complained about the volume.

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As the decade turned to the ’90s and I became a teenager, music took on an even more crucial role in my life. Hip-hop, rap, hair metal, heavy metal, grunge, alternative, country, and pop all overflowed in an emotional tidal wave. It was a time bursting with beats, rhythms, styles, fashion, artwork, and culture. In my opinion, there was no better era to be an impressionable sponge for the material being put out on FM radio, MTV, and compact discs.

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I was introduced to the guitar in 7th grade by a classmate who had taught himself to play every Eddie Van Halen song and solo, down to the very last note. While I was definitely impressed by his skills, I learned to play guitar in a more modest but effective way. I began writing songs without even really knowing how to play — and without even owning a guitar.

 

It wasn’t until the end of my junior year of high school that I was given a battery-powered guitar with a small speaker built into the body. That thing was cool! I could walk down the streets of my little town, playing and walking at the same time. I felt like a rock star!

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I can't wait to inspire others who watch me perform and show them my musical talents!