The Band
Joe
Boone - Drummer, Vocalist
Joe was born in Mobile Alabama. When Joe was a kid, his mother played guitar and sang songs to the family. The songs that his mother sang were part of his parent's generation and therefore, Joe thought the songs were "not cool." When he was around 10 years of age, Joe's older brother started playing guitar with some of his friends. At times, Joe would go to listen to their music and watch them in amusement, since he had never seen a live rock band play before. The music they played was from The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Paul Revere and the Raiders, and others.
Around Christmas, in 1969, after his brother and his band members had moved on to other things, Joe borrowed the drums so he could jam with his friends. That garage band played continuously for several years, until it occurred to them to try to get a paying gig. Joe's band first paying job was for a hairdresser and his staff. They played music by Jimmy Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Grand Funk, The Doors, and others.
At the University of Southern Alabama, Joe wanted to get behind the drums a little more, so he took music theory and percussion for around a year and a half; and Joe did learn, but the music was geared toward the classical side of music, which he loves, but he wanted to play rock! The professor was really a talented player but the phrase "rock music" made him mock.
Back in those days, Joe and several of his band members worked at a State run center for mentally ill children. They started playing at their summer parties, spring dances, and Christmas parties. That tradition is still alive today, and Joe was privileged to participate again.
Aside from some private lessons, group clinics and a summer session at North Texas State, Joe says that most of his formal training has been at Austin's clubs, playing with Austin musicians. I would recommend school to anyone who wants to learn but it is never an end in itself. "I'd have to say," said Joe, "Austin is one of the best classrooms I know."
Joe has been a professional drummer in Austin for around 19 years, and played many Austin venues, the Saxon Pub, Antone's, La Zona Rosa, Gino's, the legendary Liberty Lunch, and others.
Aside from Pati McLean and Crash! Bam! Boom! Joe can be heard on CDs with The Pleasure Cats, Mike Kindred Band, (Mike Kindred is the co-author of Stevie Ray Vaughn's hit "Cold Shot,"), with George the "Fat Man," Sanger and Team Fat, The Karen Tyler Band, Euphoria. Joe has shared his talents with a variety of well-known talented Austin musicians, and he has toured throughout the United States and Mexico.