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Joey DeFrancesco comes from a musical family. His Grandfather Joseph DeFrancesco (his name sake) was a reed man. And of course his father "Papa" John DeFrancesco is a fine jazz organist in his own right. At the age of 4 Joey began taking a strong interest in the organ. By the time he was five, he was playing Jimmy Smith songs verbatim. As the years went on his interest and love for the organ and music grew stronger. From the ages of 5-10 his father would bring him to his own gigs and let him sit in.
At 10 years of age he began to play in a Band in Philadelphia, which featured legendary players Hank Mobley on Tenor Saxophone, and "Philly" Joe Jones on the Drums. At 16 he signed an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Records, releasing his first record "All Of Me" at 17. This record was single handedly responsible for the great resurgence of the Hammond sound in popular music. Also in his 17th year he was called on by the great Miles Davis to join his band, and toured all over Europe.
It was at that time that Joey, inspired by Miles’s sound, picked up the trumpet & started playing. To this day, Joey continues to play the trumpet, very similar to the style of Miles. At 18, Joey began touring with his own quartet. At 22, John McLaughlin called him along with drummer Dennis Chambers, to form the group the "Free Spirits". This band toured extensively for 4 years.
Joey has been around the world and back dozens of times with his own trio, but also playing and recording with some of the greatest musicians in the world such as, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Frank Wess, Benny Golson, James Moody, Steve Gadd, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Cobb, George Benson, John Scofield, Joe Lovano, and many more. He has won the Down Beat Critics and Readers poll ever year since 2002, as well as Jazz Journalist award, and countless others. In 2004 Joey was nominated for a Grammy for his record "Falling In Love Again", and again in 2010 for his release titled “Never Can Say Goodbye”. Currently, Joey continues to tour with his own group, and tours with David Sanborn. Joey has played a key role in the development of his signature model organ, called Numa, by Studiologic.
Joey is a two time Grammy Nominee: In 2004 for his record ‘Falling In Love Again’, and, again, in 2010 for his release titled ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’. Winner of Down Beat Magazine’s Critic’s poll 2002-2008, 2012, 2013 as well as the magazines Reader’s Poll every year since 2005. In 2014 he was inducted into the inaugural Hammond Organ Hall of Fame.
Quoted as the Master of the Jazz organ, Joey has received countless Jazz Journalist awards, and accolades worldwide. Joey has been involved in product designs and endorsements that serve to further the advances of digital organ technology in the States and around the world.
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