Joe Diffie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Diffie
Diffie performing in 2017
Background information
Birth name	Joe Logan Diffie
Born	(1958-12-28)December 28, 1958 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	March 29, 2020(2020-03-29) (aged 61) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country neotraditional country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1989–2020
Labels	Epic Nashville Monument Nashville Broken Bow Rounder

Joe Logan Diffie (born December 28, 1958 – died March 29, 2020) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He became famous in the 1990s. Joe Diffie signed with Epic Records in 1990. He had many hit songs.

Between 1990 and 2004, Diffie had 35 songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Five of these songs reached number one. These hits included "Home", "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)", "Third Rock from the Sun", "Pickup Man", and "Bigger Than the Beatles". "Pickup Man" was his longest-running number-one song. He also had 12 other songs reach the top 10. Joe Diffie wrote songs for other artists too. He worked with Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw, and Jo Dee Messina. He also sang with Mary Chapin Carpenter, George Jones, and Marty Stuart.

Diffie released many albums. Two of his albums, Honky Tonk Attitude (1993) and Third Rock from the Sun (1994), sold over a million copies. His music often mixed traditional country sounds with fun, upbeat songs and heartfelt ballads. Joe Diffie passed away on March 29, 2020, at age 61. He died from problems related to COVID-19.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Joe Diffie was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He grew up in a family that loved music. His father played guitar and banjo, and his mother sang. Joe started singing at a very young age. He said he could sing harmony when he was just three years old.

His family moved several times. They lived in Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Joe finished high school in Velma. In high school, he was a great athlete. He played football, baseball, golf, and ran track. He was even named the Best All-Around Male Athlete in his senior year.

After high school, Joe went to Cameron University. He first studied to become a doctor. But he decided to follow his passion for music instead. He worked in oil fields and a factory. During this time, he also played music. He sang in a gospel group called Higher Purpose. He also played in a bluegrass band called Special Edition. Joe built his own recording studio. He sent his practice recordings, called demos, to music publishers in Nashville. Famous singer Hank Thompson recorded one of Joe's songs.

In 1986, Joe moved to Nashville. He got a job at Gibson Guitar Corporation. While working there, he kept recording demos. Other famous artists like Ricky Van Shelton and Alabama recorded his songs. By 1989, he left Gibson to focus on recording demos full-time. Soon after, he met Bob Montgomery. Bob was a record producer at Epic Records. He wanted to sign Joe to the label. In 1990, Joe Diffie officially signed with Epic Records.

Joe Diffie's Music Career

1990–1991: First Album Success

Joe Diffie's first album, A Thousand Winding Roads, came out in late 1990. His very first song, "Home", became a number-one hit. It topped the Billboard country charts. It also reached number one on other important country music charts. This made him the first country artist to have a debut song reach number one on all three major charts.

Two other songs from this album, "If You Want Me To" and "New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame)", reached number two. "If You Want Me To" also hit number one in Canada. His second number-one hit was "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)". The album itself was very popular. In 1990, Cash Box magazine named him Male Vocalist of the Year.

1992: Regular Joe

Joe's second album, Regular Joe, was released in 1992. It sold enough copies to be certified gold. The first two songs from this album, "Is It Cold in Here" and "Ships That Don't Come In", both reached number five on the charts. "Ships That Don't Come In" was also a number-one hit on the Radio & Records chart.

Joe also sang a duet with Mary Chapin Carpenter called "Not Too Much to Ask". This song reached the top 20 and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Critics liked Regular Joe, saying it had classic country themes. Joe was also nominated for Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music.

1993: Honky Tonk Attitude

His 1993 album, Honky Tonk Attitude, was a huge success. It sold over a million copies and was certified platinum. Three songs from this album reached the top 10. These included the title track and "John Deere Green", both hitting number five. "Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)" reached number three. Joe said this album was "a little rowdier" than his first two.

In 1993, Joe Diffie became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This is a very special honor in country music. He also won an award for Vocal Event of the Year. This was for his part in George Jones's song "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair".

1994–1996: More Hits and Christmas Fun

Third Rock from the Sun (1994) was Joe's most successful album. It reached number six on the country album charts and was his second platinum album. This album had two number-one hits: the title track and "Pickup Man". "Pickup Man" was number one for four weeks. This song was even used in commercials for Applebee's restaurants later on.

Joe also released a Christmas album in 1995 called Mr. Christmas. It included new Christmas songs, like the fun "LeRoy the Redneck Reindeer". His other album that year was Life's So Funny. It featured "Bigger Than the Beatles", which was his last number-one hit.

1997–2000: New Sounds and A Night to Remember

In 1997, Joe released Twice Upon a Time. The songs from this album didn't reach the top 10. In 1998, Epic Records released his Greatest Hits album. It included new songs like "Texas Size Heartache", which reached number four.

Joe's last album for Epic Records was A Night to Remember (1999). The title track reached number six on the country charts. It was also his only song to make the top 40 on the main pop charts. This album was praised for having more serious and heartfelt songs.

2001–2004: New Labels and Tougher Than Nails

In 2001, Joe moved to Monument Records. His album In Another World came out that year. The title track reached number 10. Joe wanted this album to have a more modern sound. In 2002, Joe was honored by being inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

In 2003, Joe signed with Broken Bow Records. He released the album Tougher Than Nails. The title track was a top-20 hit. This album included songs Joe helped write. It also had a duet with country legend George Jones. After this, Joe continued to tour and perform.

2004–2020: Later Career and Collaborations

Joe Diffie kept touring and playing concerts after 2004. In 2010, he released Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album. This album showed his love for bluegrass music. It featured collaborations with other bluegrass artists.

In 2012, country star Jason Aldean released a song called "1994". This song mentioned Joe Diffie by name and included titles of his famous songs. Joe said he was very honored to be mentioned in the song. Later, Joe also collaborated with Aaron Tippin and Sammy Kershaw on an album called All in the Same Boat. In 2019, he released a vinyl album called Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie.

Musical Style

Joe Diffie was known for his unique country music style. He often sang songs that were funny and upbeat. These are sometimes called "novelty songs." But he also sang many heartfelt and serious ballads. His music often had a traditional country sound.

Some people compared his voice to that of country legend George Jones. Joe was good at finding great songs to sing. He was known for being able to perform many different types of country songs well.

Personal Life and Passing

Joe Diffie had five children. His children are Parker, Kara, Drew, Tyler, and Kylie. His son Tyler was born with Down syndrome.

From 1992 to the early 2000s, Joe held charity concerts and golf tournaments. These events raised money for First Steps. This group helps educate children with mental and physical challenges. Joe's work for this charity earned him a Humanitarian Award in 1997. He also worked as a radio host for a country music station in Tulsa.

On March 27, 2020, Joe Diffie announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. Sadly, two days later, on March 29, 2020, he passed away in Nashville. He was 61 years old. His death was due to complications from the disease.

Discography

Studio albums

• A Thousand Winding Roads (1990)
• Regular Joe (1992)
• Honky Tonk Attitude (1993)
• Third Rock from the Sun (1994)
• Mr. Christmas (1995)
• Life's So Funny (1995)
• Twice Upon a Time (1997)
• A Night to Remember (1999)
• In Another World (2001)
• Tougher Than Nails (2004)
• Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album (2010)
• All in the Same Boat (2013)

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Diffie performing in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Joe Diffie para niños