Early Years
Born and raised in Fulton, MO, keyboardist/singer Joe McBride began playing the piano at age four. His uncle Bake McBride was an outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians. His earliest influences were gospel music, bebop, straight-ahead jazz, Motown, and ’70s R&B and funk. As a teenager, he began singing and playing at jazz clubs. Around this time, McBride was stricken with a degenerative eye disease that eventually claimed his sight, but his passion for music didn’t diminish. He continued his musical studies at the Missouri School for the Blind and Webster University in suburban St. Louis, where he majored in jazz performance. He also attended the University of North Texas. Around 1983, McBride trekked to San Diego, CA, a bastion of smooth jazz radio. He began playing with the band Fattburger and guitarist Steve Laury.
In 1985, McBride visited his brother in Dallas, TX. What was originally planned as a two-week visit evolved into an abundant opportunity. He was flooded with performing offers, leading to McBride becoming a popular musician of the city’s jazz club scene. During that time he met a young trumpeter named Dave Love at a function for North Texas State University. The two became fast friends and when Love ventured into the other side of the music business and started the Heads Up International label, the executive remembered the soulful pianist/vocalist he had met in Dallas and signed him to a record deal. In 1992, the keyboardist was featured on Heads Up labelmate Kenny Blake’s debut, Interior Design, and began touring with the Heads Up Superband along with Blake, Gerald Veasley, Keith Carlock and Henry Johnson.
Career
McBride has also been the opening act for Whitney Houston, Larry Carlton, and the Yellowjackets and countless other jazz and pop stars at the start of his solo career. His reputation now has reached overseas, making McBride a favorite in Europe and especially Spain. In the mid 1990’s his remake of Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny” featuring Stanley Turrentine and become a Cape Town Jazz classic, which lead to several tours and performances in South Africa until to today.
McBride’s debut album, Grace, released in 1992, instantly made him a core artist at smooth jazz radio. McBride’s other albums released during the ’90s include A Gift for Tomorrow (1994), Keys to Your Heart (1996), and Double Take (1998). A stellar guest list of artists that have appeared on his releases includes Grover Washington, Jr., Richard Elliot, Phil Perry, Peter White, Dave Koz, Rick Braun, and Larry Carlton, among others.
At the start of the 21st century, McBride’s long sought-after dream was realized: an album that featured his own band, the Texas Rhythm Club. His CD Texas Rhythm Club was recorded in his home base of Dallas, Texas. Highlights included “Howzit in Dallas,” “Everything Remains the Same,” the tender ballad “It’s You,” the snappy “Lone Star Boogie,” and the humorous “Texas Blues Cruise.”
His recorded output has continued during the new millennium, as 2002 saw the release of Keepin’ It Real, while Texas Hold’em came out in 2005. Lookin’ for a Change is his latest effort and is a reworking of classic R&B and pop tunes to a standard jazz trio setting.
McBride has also participated in internationally recognized recordings such as “Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes” along with Melissa Ethridge on Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Grammy nominated Long Walk To Freedom. He recorded the classic African jazz anthem “Mannenberg” along with guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Butler on the album Smooth Africa.
Tour
McBride’s touring program consists of a program tribute to “Brother Ray” where he performs classics by Ray Charles.
A consummate entertainer in modern R&B tinged jazz, soul, straight ahead, gospel or Funk – Joe McBride has a lot to say. His shows demonstrate his amazing soulful ability to sing and play the piano at a very high-level and connect with an audience.
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