"All around the world I've found proof postive...love is still the universal language. Music, is the translator" After extensive touring of the US, and several thousand independent CD sales with his former band, 'Something Phonic’, Joe was prepared to present his songs to a wider global audience. It was an appropriate choice, considering the nature of his music has universal appeal. Influenced by Folk Songs from many countries, R&B, Classical, Jazz, Latin, and Soul; his words and music have a unique way of uniting people with their positive energy.
Beijing, Washington DC, Bangkok, Toronto, San Francisco, Koh Tao…the ever-growing international community that has requested Joe’s performances goes on and on. College and Mainstream Radio Stations from coast to coast have frequently spun his CDs and invited him in for on-air performances. And now with the increasing popularity of Podcasts, his songs are becoming bridges to South Africa, Japan, UK, Amsterdam, and many other seemingly far away places.
No stranger to the stage, Joe learned early the soul-stirring magic of live music. At age 13, his rock band received a frenzied standing ovation from an audience of 1,200 excited students and faculty for performing the epic ballade, “November Rain”, instrumentally. That would prove to be the first in a long line of euphoric live shows. Since then, Joe’s bands went on to share audiences with Train, The Big Wu and T.S. Monk.
While attending elementary school, he was given the highest award for solo piano performance from the Wisconsin Music Teacher’s Assoc-iation. More recently, he received an award from the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, and earned “Track of the Day” honors at Garageband.com with “Only Love”, a song the day after a close friend’s death.
Joe’s playing and songwriting can be heard on over a dozen albums. He is in constant collaboration with today’s top musicians, and takes frequent calls for studio work. On his most recent home-studio album, “Other Side of the Bridge”, he sings and plays piano, guitar, ukulele, mandolin, accordion, drums, bass, synth, sax, and kalimba.
Oct 10, 02:41 PMHere are links to a long list of songs you can listen to online, but not download. These are listed under the artist name "Sly Joe": http://www.broadjam.com/artists/artist_playlist.asp?artistID=34885 Bio and CD for sale at: http://www.garageband.com/artist/joeslyzelia He was apparently formerly a member of the band Something Phonic, which released "Organic" in 2002. That album, though posted on the above site for purchase, is no longer available. His album "The Other Side of the ... More...
