Joe Camilleri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Camilleri
Joe Camilleri at Mordialloc Festival, March 2006 Photo: Mandy Hall
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Vincent Camilleri
Also known as	Jo Jo Zep
Born	(1948-05-21) 21 May 1948 (age 77) Crown Colony of Malta
Genres	Rock, R&B, blues
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, saxophone, guitar
Years active	1964–present
Associated acts	The Pelaco Brothers Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons Black Sorrows The Revelators Adderley Smith Blues Band

Joseph Vincent Camilleri, also known as Jo Jo Zep, is a famous singer, songwriter, and musician from Malta and Australia. He was born on May 21, 1948. Joe Camilleri has released music as a solo artist and as a member of popular bands like Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows.

His band Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons had a big hit song called "Hit & Run" in 1979, which reached number 12 on the music charts. Later, his song "Taxi Mary" (as Jo Jo Zep) reached number 11 in 1982. With The Black Sorrows, his song "Chained to the Wheel" was a top hit, reaching number 9 in 1989.

Joe Camilleri has also helped other artists by producing their records. Some of these artists include The Sports, Paul Kelly & the Dots, and Renée Geyer. A music journalist named Ian McFarlane called him "one of the most genuinely talented figures in Australian music." In 2007, Joe Camilleri was honored by being inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame as a member of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons.

His album Saint Georges Road with The Black Sorrows, released in 2021, was his 50th music release!

Biography

Early Life and Music Start

Joe Camilleri was born in Malta in 1948. He was the third of ten children. When he was two years old, his family moved to Australia. Joe grew up in Port Melbourne and loved listening to rock music on the radio. His mother called him Zep, and that's how he got his nickname, Jo Zep. He has five children.

Joe started his music journey in 1964. He was literally pushed onto a stage to sing with a band called The Drollies! In the mid-1960s, he played blues and R&B music with The King Bees. He then joined the Adderley Smith Blues Band. Joe enjoyed working with this band, which included guitarist Kerryn Tolhurst.

Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons: A Band's Journey

Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons formed in 1975. Joe Camilleri became well-known as the lead singer, a songwriter, and the saxophonist for this group. Other members included Jeff Burstin, John Power, Gary Young, Tony Faehse, and Wilbur Wilde. The band mixed different music styles like blues, R&B, soul, punk rock, new wave, and reggae. They became very popular in Australia.

Some of their hit songs were "Shape I'm In" and "Puppet on a String." Their biggest hit was "Hit & Run" in June 1979, which reached number 12 on the charts.

In 1981, most of The Falcons left the group. The band's name was then shortened to Jo Jo Zep. The song "Taxi Mary" (credited to Jo Jo Zep) reached number 11 in September 1982. The Jo Jo Zep group grew very large, with up to 11 members, and eventually broke up in 1983.

The original group from 1976–1981 got back together in 2001 for a special show. They decided to stay together and released a new album called Ricochet in 2003. As mentioned, Joe Camilleri was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007 for his work with Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons. The band still performs live shows today.

The Black Sorrows: A New Chapter

After Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons ended in 1983, Joe Camilleri found even greater success with another long-running group called The Black Sorrows. This band started in 1984 as a casual acoustic group playing blues, R&B, and zydeco music. The Black Sorrows often had different musicians join them. Some former Falcons members, like Jeff Burstin and Gary Young, also played with them. Later, sisters Vika and Linda Bull joined as singers. Joe Camilleri has been the only constant member of the group.

The Black Sorrows gained many fans and received great reviews for their music and live shows. They started as a cover band but soon began writing their own songs. They released many successful albums in the 1980s and 1990s. These albums included A Place in the World, Dear Children (a Top 20 album in 1987), Hold On to Me (reached number 7 in 1988), Harley & Rose (reached number 3 in 1990), and Better Times (reached number 13 in 1992). Their greatest hits album, The Chosen Ones – Greatest Hits, reached number 4 in 1993.

Their hit singles included "Chained to the Wheel" (number 9 in 1989), "Harley + Rose" (1990), and "Never Let Me Go" (1990).

For the first few years, Joe Camilleri performed with The Black Sorrows using the name "Joey Vincent." However, he used his real name for writing and producing the music. He stopped using the "Joey Vincent" name by the time Harley & Rose was released in 1990. The band has continued to release music with different line-ups through the 1990s and 2000s.

Other Music Projects

The Revelators: Country and R&B Sounds

While still with The Black Sorrows, Joe Camilleri also played with The Revelators. This group focused on playing mostly cover songs in a country and R&B style. The Revelators had a very similar line-up to The Black Sorrows. They released their first album, Amazing Stories, in 1991. They followed this with The Adventures of The Amazing Revelators (2000) and The Revelators (2002). The Revelators performed live from around 1989 until about 2012.

Bakelite Radio: Acoustic Adventures

Bakelite Radio was another one of Joe's side projects that started in the early 2000s. This group focused on more acoustic music, still with country and R&B influences. They mostly played cover songs, and the band members often changed.

The group released four albums between 2003 and 2009. These were Bakelite Radio Volume II (2003), Bakelite Radio Volume III (2004), Bakelite Radio Volume IV (2007), and Bakelite Radio Volume I (2009). Bakelite Radio performed live from 2001 to 2007.

After a long break, Bakelite Radio returned in 2020 with a new album called Rosary of Tears. The group, sometimes called "Joey Vincent's Bakelite Radio," also had a special live show in 2024.

The Voodoo Sheiks: New Orleans Style

The Voodoo Sheiks are a ten-member band led by Joe Camilleri and John McAll. They celebrate the lively music of New Orleans. The band has a big brass section and plays many cover songs. They started performing around 2011. The Voodoo Sheiks have not yet recorded an album under their own name. However, one song on The Black Sorrows' 2014 album Certified Blue is called "The Return Of The Voodoo Sheiks." This song was played by the Voodoo Sheiks' band members at the time.

Here Comes The Night: A Tribute Show

"Here Comes The Night" is a special project that pays tribute to the music of Van Morrison. Joe Camilleri leads this project with Vince Jones and Vika Bull. Since 2013, the group has performed many live shows across Australia.

Music Production and Session Work

Starting in the late 1970s, Joe Camilleri also became a record producer. This means he helped other artists create their music recordings. He produced records for artists like The Sports, Paul Kelly & the Dots, and Renée Geyer. Joe also played as a session musician or singer on many recordings by other Australian artists. These include bands like Skyhooks, Icehouse, and Mondo Rock.

Solo Music Releases

Joe Camilleri has not released many songs or albums under his own name. His first solo project was a single in 1980, released under the name "Joey Vincent." He released two more singles in the 1980s and a maxi single called "All Saint's Hotel" in 1995. These are his only solo releases of new music.

Studio Albums

Compilation Albums

Singles

List of Albums Over Time

The Black Sorrows' Saint Georges Road (released in 2021) was Joe Camilleri's 50th music release in his career. This includes all his albums, mini-albums, and live recordings.

Awards and Recognitions

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards in Australia that celebrate great achievements in music. They started in 1987. Joe Camilleri was honored in the Hall of Fame in 2007 as part of Jo Jo Zep.

Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Australian Songwriters Hall of Fame was created in 2004. It honors the amazing work of Australia's best songwriters throughout their careers.

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards were yearly awards that celebrated live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Joe Camilleri won one of these awards.

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual event that celebrates music from the state of Victoria, Australia. They began in 2006.