Joe Locke (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Locke
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Paul Locke |
| Born | March 18, 1959 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vibraphone |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | SteepleChase, Milestone, Sharp Nine, Sirocco, Origin, Motema |
| Associated acts | Geoff Keezer |
Joseph Paul Locke (born March 18, 1959) is an American jazz musician. He is famous for playing the vibraphone, a musical instrument with metal bars that are hit with mallets. It also has a special motor that makes the sound vibrate, creating a unique and beautiful tone.
Joe Locke's Musical Journey
Joe Locke was born in Palo Alto, California, but he grew up in Rochester, New York. His father was a music teacher, so music was always a big part of his life!
When Joe was eight years old, he started learning to play the drums and piano. Five years later, he discovered the vibraphone and fell in love with it. He even played in rock bands when he was younger.
As a teenager, Joe became very interested in jazz music. He decided to study music seriously and attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.
In 1981, Joe moved to New York City, a famous place for musicians. There, he played with many other talented artists like Kenny Barron and Freddy Cole. He was inspired by famous vibraphone players such as Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson.
Joe released his first solo album, Present Tense, in 1990. He also started his own band called Mutual Appreciation Society in 1999. He has often recorded music with pianist Geoff Keezer. One of his albums, Four Walls of Freedom, was inspired by the writings of a famous author named Thomas Merton.
In 2016, Joe Locke was honored by being added to the Music Hall of Fame in Rochester. He is also an International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Joe has won the Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year Award from the Jazz Journalists Association six times, showing how talented he is!
Joe Locke's Music
Joe Locke has released many albums throughout his career. Some of his albums include:
- Present Tense (1990)
- But Beautiful with Kenny Barron (1991)
- Moment to Moment (1995)
- Mutual Admiration Society with David Hazeltine (1999)
- Four Walls of Freedom (2003)
- Live in Seatlle with Geoff Keezer (2005)
- Force of Four (2008)
- Love Is a Pendulum (2015)
- Subtle Disguise (2018)
- Makram (2023)
