JOE VAL

• From New England. Was born in Everett, Massachusetts.
• Real name: Joseph Valiante. His last name was shortened to Val by fiddler Tex Logan.
• An influential mandolin player and tenor singer in the New England area.
• 1950’s, performed with the Radio Rangers and the Lilly Brothers.
• 1960’s, worked with Bill Keith, Jim Rooney, Breakfast Special, and the Charles River Valley Boys, a group that became well-known after recording an album for Elektra called “Beatle Country”featuring bluegrass arrangements of songs by the Beatles.
• 1969, formed The New England Bluegrass Boys and recorded five albums for Rounder.
• He had a full-time day job as a typewriter repairman.
• Died in 1985. Was posthumously presented with the IBMA’s Distinguished Achievement Award that same year.
• 1986, a concert series (and later a bluegrass festival) was named in his honor.
• 2018, was inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

RECOMMENDED ALBUMS:

• Diamond Joe (Rounder)
• One Morning in May (Rounder)