General Background

Joe D’Angelo is a popular drummer and vocalist in the tri-state (New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey) area. Essentially known as a Blues-Rock drummer, Joe is one of the few “singing drummers” that can sing both lead and/or harmony parts and play the drums at the same time. A groove drummer by nature, his style is best described as funky and driving with a “deep pocket and heavy backbeat ”. Joe has a very serious reputation as a "ballsy" drummer with the ability of being able to "kick a band in it's ass", and is constantly in-demand. He is sometimes referred to as “the Ghost” for his extensive use of playing ghost notes on the snare drum, and “the Fist” for his hard-hitting and aggressive playing style. An extremely emotional artist, Joe is also known as an intense and charismatic front-man, with a powerful stage presence when performing as a lead vocalist.

Born into a musical family and raised in Piscataway, New Jersey, he currently resides in rural Titusville, New Jersey. His father, Tony D'Angelo was a professional jazz singer from Philadelphia. His son Johnny D'Angelo attended Berklee College of Music, and is a professional drummer himself who is currently endorsed and touring with Lisa Bouchelle, opening for Meatloaf on his North American and Canadian tours. Joe first started playing drums and singing at about 5 years old. At 16 years old, he joined his first “real” band called Headin’ South, a southern rock cover band playing parties and high school battles. He was the lead singer as well as the drummer. From 1980 to 1985 he hit the Jersey club scene with the hard rock band Virgin Evening, and the popular Top 40 band Ringer. From 1986 to 1998, Joe dropped out of the music scene completely to pursue academic studies and to raise a family. After graduating Cum Laude with a B.S. in Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Joe worked in corporate business as an Environmental Manager and began pursuing his M.B.A.. By late 1998, Joe was back on the music scene, this time in Trenton. By April of 2002, totally disillusioned with the lifestyle and corruption of corporate business, Joe completely severed his ties with corporate America altogether, and fully dedicated his life to music by performing and teaching privately full time.

Joe currently plays with artists such as Sonny Kenn, Billy Hector, Matt O'Ree, Lisa Bouchelle, Paul Plumeri, Christine Martucci, Pete Bremy, Jeff Guenther, Vince Martell, Guy Petersen, Bruce Wacker, Mark Walsh, Jody Joseph, Lucy Bonilla, Sandy Mack, Chris Plunkett, Magic Red, Stringbean, Tom Reock, Joe Vadala, Jeff Palmer, Sandy Zio, Ernie White, John Bushnell, and many others. Joe continues to freelance as a drummer and vocalist throughout the tri-state area, and has had the privilege to share the stage with artists from: Vanilla Fudge, Sister Sledge, Canned Heat, Steely Dan, Sammy Hagar's Band, Gary U.S. Bonds, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Kingfish, The Hooters, Emmy Lou Harris, The Fabulous Grease Band, Sheryl Crow’s Band, The Ace Frehley Band, La Bamba, Johnny Winter, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Hank Williams, Jr., Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Joe Cocker, George Jones, Ween, Billy Joel’s Band, Styx, Bon Jovi, Buddy Guy’s Band, and Buddy Rich’s Big Band. He has opened up for national acts such as Robert Randolph, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Southside Johnny, LaBamba, Johnny Winter, and John Eddie. He frequently plays famed and popular New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania nite-clubs such as The Stone Pony, Mexicali Blues, B.B.King’s, House of Blues, Bally's, The Bitter End, Webster Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, The Gramercy Theater, The Cutting Room, The Starland Ballroom, Warmdaddy’s, and The Chicago Blues Club.

Drumming Background
Joe has studied with Jazz legend Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck) and R&B great Bernard Purdie (Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan). He has also studied with noted New Jersey progressive rock/fusion drummer Joe Nevolo (Pat Travers, Frank Marino & Mohogany Rush, The Good Rats, Shadow Gallery). He cites his early influences in jazz as Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, and Joe Morello. His early influences in rock are listed as John Bonham, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, and Bernard Purdie. Joe has recently turned towards Dave Garibaldi, Dave Weckl, and Zigaboo Modeliste as funk influences.

During his high school years, Joe was a snare drummer with the Piscataway Superchiefs, a nationally recognized championship high school marching band. Performances included two appearances for the NFL at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, television appearances for CBS, and an opening for Walt Disney at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, all culminating in a first place national championship in Daytona Beach, Florida in 1979. He also played in the Piscataway Superchief Concert Band and Pit Band.

Vocal Background
From 1997 to 1999, Joe was a tenor with Boheme Opera Company based in Princeton, New Jersey, and has performed four operas with the company at the Trenton War Memorial Theatre, including La Boheme by Puccini, Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart, Die Fliedermaus by Strauss, and Rigoletto by Verdi. He was a tenor with Saint James Church Choir in Pennington, New Jersey from 1997 to 1999. Joe has also worked as a lead singer and front-man for Magic Red and The Voodoo Tribe, East Village Funk, and The B.D. Lenz Band. In September of 2009, he fronted the six-piece Reock & Roll Revue Band in it's performance of the Who's Quadrophenia. His voice is best described as powerful and soulful, with a sweet and warm tone. His stage presence as a vocalist has been described as a cross between Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and Jim Morrison of the Doors. Joe lists the following vocalists as influences: John Fogerty, Roger Daltrey, Jim Croce, Jeff Buckely, Connie Dover, Mario Lanza, Janis Joplin, Mick Jagger, Karen Carpenter, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Gregg Allman, Van Morrison, Patsy Cline, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney.