1. Joe Beck was an American jazz guitarist who was active for over 40 years.
16 Facts About Joe Beck
1. 2.
Joe Beck described his early success in an interview near the end of his life:.
3.
Joe Beck played in a variety of jazz styles, including jazz fusion, post bop, mainstream jazz, and soul jazz, but respected rock stylists and cross-over players and briefly flirted with rock music styles himself in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
4.
In 1971, Joe Beck left music for three years to become a dairy farmer, citing frustration with his career.
5.
In 1988, Joe Beck left music again for a return to farming, but was touring again by 1992.
6.
Joe Beck toured and recorded with duos and small groups, releasing two more solo albums.
7.
In mid-life Joe Beck spent less time playing and worked more as a composer of commercial jingles and as an arranger, writing arrangements for Frank Sinatra and Gloria Gaynor.
8.
Joe Beck arranged and produced many records including projects for Frank Sinatra, Gloria Gaynor, and two albums for Esther Phillips including her hit single, "What A Difference A Day Makes".
9.
Joe Beck played guitar on James Brown's singles and albums in 1974.
10.
Joe Beck recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, the Milan Philharmonic in Italy, and The Paris String Ensemble in France.
11.
Joe Beck's first wife, Sigi, was a model and later married an internationally renowned economist, Dr Zoran Hodjera.
12.
Joe Beck died in Woodbury, Connecticut, of complications from lung cancer.
13.
Joe Beck's album Get Me Joe Beck was posthumously released in 2014.
14.
In 1992 Joe Beck began touring as a duo with flutist Ali Ryerson.
15.
Joe Beck owned and played both Martin and Cort Alto guitars, and both Martin and Cort standard-tuning versions as well.
16.
Joe Beck worked with guitar manufacturer Cort Guitars in the 1990s to create two hollow-body jazz guitar models.