Artist description An intelligent and literate singer/songwriter who knows how to rock out. Joel is a compelling poet and a virtuoso musician.ˇ

Music Style Alternative Acoustic Folk-Rock

Musical Influences David Bowie, Liz Phair, Velvet Underground, The Police, Cat Stevens, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, Beatles, Beck, Paul Simon

Similar Artists David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Velvet Underground, Paul Simon

Artist History The songs of Joel Henry reflect an eclectic range of influences. Recently, his long-time guitarist and collaborator, George Kapsalis, described Joel's new songs as "Coldplay meets Cat Stevens." Born in Germany to American diplomats, Joel's nomadic childhood took him from Europe, to Washington D.C, to Peru, Israel, and California. His music career began with classical piano lessons, at the age of five, while living in Peru. By twelve, in Tel-Aviv, he'd begun studying jazz, and had also picked up folk guitar. By high school, in the suburbs of D.C., Joel was playing percussion in the school symphonic band while tinkling on the ivories in the school jazz band as well. With a synthesizer, some microphones, a drum set, and a four-track, the first demos of Joel's original songs were simultaneously being birthed in the basement of his parents' home. During these formative years, the perpetual music student soaked up the sounds of his parents' Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Paul Simon records. He also became obsessed with the sophisticated songwriting of The Beatles and Queen, tuned in to 80's pop radio rulers like Prince and Van Halen, and developed a penchant for new wave Brit-pop bands like OMD and The Cure. A demo Joel recorded in 1992 caught the attention of Texas indie GoldRhyme Records, and the songwriter signed with the label in 1994 while still a music composition student at Rice University, in Houston. The relationship saw the subsequent recording of three CD's of original folk-rock. Joel and GoldRhyme parted ways soon after the release of his third CD, Marionette, which Joel recorded in 2000 with Jeff Buckley drummer Matt Johnson and Duncan Sheik bassist Jeff Allen. Despite weathering some industry pitfalls, Joel's career as a singer/songwriter and composer continues to blossom. In 2000 he was featured in Time Magazine, and consequently received over eighteen thousand hits on his website in the following two weeks. Later that year he was voted "Best Houston Guitarist" by Ticketmaster/Citysearch.com, and nominated "Songwriter of the Year" by them as well. Since then Joel has garnered three ASCAP Awards for his songwriting (2003, 2002, 2001), was featured numerous times in Houston newspapers, performed at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, and appeared on a national tour with the Three Irish Tenors. Joel has also composed music for the Discovery Channel, the Atlanta Symphony (Yoel Levy conducting), the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre in Houston, and several modern dance companies in New York. He has received composition grants from Meet the Composer and the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, and worked as piano accompanist at the Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance and at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center. Whether solo or backed by a killer band, Joel is attracting audiences across the USA and Europe. His live shows range from intimate acoustic folk numbers to full out loud, rocking tunes. Joel currently resides in New York City where he keeps busy writing, recording and performing regularly

Group Members On new CD, MARIONETTE: Joel Stein - vocals, guitars, keyboards / Matt Johnson - drums, percussion (former drummer for Jeff Buckley! / Jeff Allen - bass (plays regularly with Duncan Sheik) / George Kapsalis - guitars Current group, THE SHAMELESS: Joel - vocals, guitars, keys, harmonica / John Edward Ross - guitars / Mando Perez - drums / Payson Clark - basstÄ

Instruments vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, percussion

Albums Marionette (2000), In the Time of the Home Parade (1996), Please Forward (1995)

Press Reviews Time Magazine, Houston Press, Houston Chronicle, CitySearch.com, Houston Headline, Houston Music News, Rice UniversityThresher, University of Houston Cougar, Sun Gazetteofl

Location New York City, New York - USA

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