ABOUT THE ARTIST.

Instrumentation
Joey Figgiani - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Harmonica

Performs acoustically (Joey can also perform with full band)

Biography
"Phenomenal; an absolutely fantastic record." Vic The Bruiser, WBAI, NY

Recent Highlights:
- Recorded album at Sun Studio, Memphis
- Recorded with Elvis Presley's original band
- Weekly performances at Hard Rock Cafe, Nashville
- Live acoustic set and interview on KDHX, St. Louis
- Showcase performance at 2004 Midpoint Music Festival, Cincinnati
- Best Melody in Acoustic Category for original song, "Simple Life." - Garageband.com
- Headlined a benefit for Marquette Radio, Marquette University, Milwaukee

Joey is a member of the Americana Music Association and ASCAP.

Joey Figgiani embraced his creative talents after discovering a natural ear for music. He began playing drums at age 6, inspired by his late grandfather, Paul, a self-taught drummer, accordion player and pianist. Soon, Joey taught himself piano and eventually guitar. He also spent several years pursuing acting, earning his Screen Actor’s Guild card along the way. During high school he began to devote more time to music, writing songs and fine-tuning his voice after a single lesson. His heartfelt vocal style is reminiscent of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Bobby Darin, The Beatles (music his dad, Paul, Jr. exposed him to) as well as, Lindsey Buckingham and U2’s Bono.

Such diverse musical taste has enabled Joey to grow into an extremely versatile performer. He has played in rock bands, wedding bands and even with a swing orchestra. Throughout the 90's, Joey played solo and with his band, Somebody, (featuring siblings, Teresa and Michael). Several years later, Joey played drums with Long Island band, "Snob Hill.” He later recorded three albums of dynamic original music in the avant-garde band "The High Seas" and was featured on New York radio station WBAI.

Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, Joey has since returned to stripped down arrangements and a style that enables him to showcase his voice. Performing as a solo artist, he spent a year residency at NYC’s "Psychic Cafe", where he shared the microphone with Columbia recording artist, Nellie McKay.

An avid admirer of Elvis' early work, Joey holds 50 Presley songs in his repertoire. With guitar in tow, a bus trip to Tennessee one summer led to his recording in the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, where Presley, Jerry-Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash got their start. “To stand there and sing into a microphone, knowing this was where Elvis made history was just incredible.” In one take, Joey recorded a moving version of his original song, "Three Year Century," wowing studio engineer, James Lott.

Joey recently returned to the Memphis studio to record “Under the Memphis Sun” (Three Minute Records, August 2005) which features 11 Elvis songs plus three written by Joey and a remake of Bruce Springsteen’s “Fire,” the song The King never got to record. Joey also recorded several songs in Nashville where he was joined by Elvis’ legendary drummer, DJ Fontana, and backing vocalists, The Jordanaires. Joey celebrated the album’s release in Memphis during Elvis Week with performances at the Hard Rock Café and Graceland Crossing.

In addition to his following in New York, Joey has also developed a loyal fan base in Tennessee and Illinois and travels regularly to play shows in these and other states. He has donated his time to play The Staten Island Waterfront Festival and The September Concert Series in remembrance of September 11 several times. The Ottawa Times described Joey as "a talented crooner who belts out Elvis hits and other songs with a knack that would make the “King” himself proud.” Entertainment publication, The Source, has described Joey’s music as “a sound that oozes sweet melodies and rhythms with just enough bleakness to recall early Hank Williams and Springsteen’s “Nebraska.” Joey has even performed at the legendary music venue, "The Stone Pony" in Asbury Park, NJ, where a young Springsteen blazed his own path. “Singing on that stage was big for me. This is where Bruce has played so many times, and it's just a great place to soak up inspiration.”

That inspiration has led Joey to focus his time on songwriting and a forthcoming album, "The Place Between Moving and Standing Still" (Three Minute Records, Late 2005). The album feature’s Joey’s original songs including the fan favorite, "Simple Life," an ode to Joey's hard-working late grandfather, who eventually gave up his music to drive a truck for a living. In "Simple Life," Joey reflects on how hectic life has become; how we leave no time for creativity, and how we’re continually "trying to find a place between moving and standing still." With his drive, talent, and eclectic range Joey Figgiani’s career is on the move

You’ve got incredible talent to say the least, a drummer, singer, guitarist, actor…. Are there no bounds to your achievements?
Thanks. I’ve been gravitating toward anything that comes natural since I was a kid. I’m just grateful for the incredible feeling I get when playing drums with a band, singing, playing guitar.

Your grandfather inspired you to get started, what keeps you driven to learn, perfect and perform?
Because certain things have come naturally, there are times when I find myself playing the same three chords and think: ‘I’d better learn a few new ones if I don’t want everything to sound the same.’ As far as perfecting, I do my best work when I’m not really aware of myself. It’s like if you learn about zen, there’s this zone that you find yourself in the middle of, and that’s when you play almost without any effort. I talk about it feeling like you’re on automatic pilot. Perfection to me is just finding that niche or thing you love to do and doing it to the fullest.

Is there a particular instrument that you prefer playing over another?
Having a guitar around is so much easier and accessible, so I usually end up playing an acoustic that’s lying around. But I’d have to say I feel most connected when I sit at a piano. Ironically, it’s the only instrument I don’t own. A few weeks ago I was in Chattanooga for a college music convention, and I found a beautiful piano on the second floor of the hotel. I sat there and played without singing, just played for a few hours and no one bothered me. The piano is a great instrument for conveying emotion.

Are Teresa and Michael still involved in music?
Yes, Michael is always playing guitar and bass. Right now he’s jamming with a friend in Florida where he just moved, and we always end up recording something or playing a show whenever our schedules allow. Teresa works sometimes Friday through Sunday every weekend singing at different venues in Staten Island. I did a gig with her on drums two weeks ago at The Muddy Cup, this really cool coffee bar near the Staten Island ferry in St. George.

How often do you find yourself in NY, IL and Tennessee at a time?
I’ve been back in NY almost every five or six weeks this year. I still have a lot of stuff there I’m slowly taking back whenever I return to Tennessee, where I live at least a few weeks every month. Illinois has been incredible. By meeting Mickey Venegas, a restaurant owner in LaSalle, I’ve played a half a dozen bars and private parties that have me back there monthly. This guy was eating dinner alone at one in the morning and when my cousin and I walked in, we all started talking music. From that random conversation, I’ve found work in places like Anita Margarita in the suburbs of Chicago, made great friends and can feel at home there.

Do you think we’ll ever find you acting on a TV show one day?
Sure, I’d love to do some real acting one day. As a kid, I did bit parts in commercials and was a movie extra a few times. But after doing so well in my acting class in college, I think I may want to try it in the professional sense.

Do you have a set group of people that you perform with as a band?
My brother Michael and sister Teresa and I will always work together. This past year I’ve recorded and played live with some incredibly talented younger players, like drummer Darren Foster and a guitar player, Kody Lovell. Most recently, I’ve paired off with Andy Haban a fantastic bass player I met in Nashville. Oddly enough, he lives in Tennessee but is from Chicago. We also found that my address in Nashville is the same four digit number he had when growing up in Illinois.

What inspires you when you write new material?
I tend to draw from the bittersweet experiences of love and relationships. Longing for something or someone you can’t have is a big theme for me. Also, a Springsteen song or recently hearing some great stuff by Alan Jackson inspires me to develop a song with an interesting story.

Where do you find the best place is to write new material? (bus, studio, home)?
I’ve stayed in my friend’s Air Stream trailer several times in Illinois and wrote one of my most well-received songs, “Sweet Lorraine” there. Also, sitting on this little deck off my living room has been a great spot.

Are you married and if so, how is married life on the road?
Not married, though I came close twice.

Who would you say has been THE most influential performer in Rock n Roll? And why?
Elvis Presley has been with me from the beginning. His image, his great voice and his charisma in all the live performance footage has made the biggest impact. Mainly, here was a young man: dirt-poor, a high school misfit, who did what he loved and became the biggest name in music, maybe entertainment. To me, Elvis was colorblind, never separated himself from what inspired him as a child, and felt part of the gospel and blues music he grew up listening to. Then he brought it all together and presented it to the country at a time when young people had no voice or person to identify with. There never was a time when one man “shook up” this world so quickly, never will be again, probably.

What do you think you’ll find yourself doing in the next year or so?
Working with our radio promoter and trying to get some more airplay for my Under the Memphis Sun CD. Also, finishing up my original album, The Place Between Moving and Standing Still, and pushing that. Hopefully, play as many shows as possible, since that’s where I’m making my living right now. I also hope to keep traveling, because I tend to be more productive when I’m moving.

Thank you very much!

Thanks, Dennis. I appreciate such thoughtful questions and the time you spend promoting local musicians on the Chicago Music Guide.

It is OUR pleasure!

Website
www.joefigg.com

Discography
The Brothers Figgiani - 2000
The High Seas - Volume 1 - 2002
"Under The Memphis Sun - The Sun Studio EP" - August 2005 (three minute records)
"The Place Between Moving and Standing Still" - January 2006 (three minute records)