32 Facts About Joey DeFrancesco

Joey DeFrancesco was an American jazz organist, trumpeter, saxophonist, and occasional singer.

Joey DeFrancesco released more than 30 albums under his own name, and recorded extensively as a sideman with such leading jazz performers as trumpeter Miles Davis, saxophonist Houston Person, and guitarist John McLaughlin.

Joey DeFrancesco was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, on April 10,1971.

Joey DeFrancesco was born into a musical family that included three generations of jazz musicians.

Joey DeFrancesco was named after his grandfather, Joseph DeFrancesco, a jazz musician who played the saxophone and clarinet.

Joey DeFrancesco's father, "Papa" John DeFrancesco, is an organist who played nationally and received the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame's Living Legend Award in 2013.

Joey DeFrancesco began playing the organ at the age of 4 and was playing songs by Jimmy Smith verbatim by the time he was 5.

At the age of 10, Joey DeFrancesco joined a band in Philadelphia that included jazz musicians Hank Mobley and Philly Joe Jones.

Joey DeFrancesco attended the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

Joey DeFrancesco was a finalist in the first Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition.

Joey DeFrancesco was 16 years old when he signed an exclusive recording contract with Columbia Records.

That same year, Joey DeFrancesco joined Miles Davis and his band on a five-week concert tour in Europe.

Joey DeFrancesco followed up with playing keyboards on Davis' album Amandla, which reached No 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart in 1989.

Joey DeFrancesco started playing the trumpet around the same time, inspired by the sound of Davis.

Joey DeFrancesco was originally spotted by Davis during a performance on the television show called Time Out.

Joey DeFrancesco was performing on the set along with high school classmate Christian McBride when Davis asked the show's host, "what's your organ player's name", referring to DeFrancesco.

Joey DeFrancesco began touring with his own quartet at the age of 18.

Joey DeFrancesco toured with the group for 4 years and was part of several recordings, including the albums Tokyo Live and After the Rain.

In 2004, Joey DeFrancesco recorded Legacy, another album that featured Jimmy Smith.

Joey DeFrancesco was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 for his record Falling in Love Again.

Joey DeFrancesco's career shifted slightly in 2009 with the film Moonlight Serenade, starring Amy Adams and Alec Newman.

Joey DeFrancesco played the role of "Frank D" in the film and was credited as a composer and producer of the film.

Joey DeFrancesco was nominated for another Grammy Award in 2011 for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for Never Can Say Goodbye: The Music of Michael Jackson.

Some other DeFrancesco tribute albums include a tribute to Frank Sinatra titled "Joey DeFrancesco plays Sinatra his way" and a tribute to Jimmy Smith.

Joey DeFrancesco turned 40 in 2011, celebrating by releasing 40, his 29th recording, which had success both on jazz charts domestically and in Europe.

Joey DeFrancesco received numerous accolades for his performances, including being called the best B3 player on the planet by JazzTimes.

Joey DeFrancesco was a four time Grammy Award-nominee, with more than 30 recordings as a leader.

Joey DeFrancesco won a number of JazzTimes Awards as well.

Joey DeFrancesco was an inaugural member of the Hammond Hall of Fame, inducted in 2013 along with Brian Auger, Billy Preston, Steve Winwood, and his mentor Jimmy Smith.

Joey DeFrancesco was married to his wife Gloria until his death.

Joey DeFrancesco had one daughter with his first wife, Ashley Blue Joey DeFrancesco, and a son, Donny.

Joey DeFrancesco died of a heart attack on August 25,2022, at the age of 51.