Welz was born in Baltimore to Melba Welzant, a teacher and concert pianist, and Joseph Welzant, a Baltimore city police officer.[1][2]
Careeredit
Welz started his music career with his group the Jay Rockers in the 1950s. Welz was amongst the first group of rock and roll pianists to start using the boogie-woogie style with his left hand. He attributes this to the lack of a bassist in his band, forcing him to play basslines using his left hand. In interviews he has stated that it also came in handy when he joined the Comets because the notes coming from the upright bass were often inaudible due to the limits of amplification at that time.[3]
He attracted the attention of Bill Haley when The Jay Rockers opened for the Comets. While serving as a recording engineer for the Armed Forces Network in Berlin, Welz recorded and co-produced a live session for Bill Haley & His Comets for AFNFrankfurt. This was the first occasion that Welz played on a Bill Haley & His Comets record, providing backing vocals on "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and playing on "Honky Tonk".[citation needed] This session was released years later on Hydra Records. Upon exiting the military in 1963, Welz joined the Comets as pianist following the departure of Johnny Grande. It was also during this time that Welz signed a record deal with Canadian-American Records and released the single "Hey Little Moonbeam" which he co-wrote with Steve Lawrence. He would continue to play with The Comets until 1966.[4]
In 1969, Welz recorded an album entitled "Listen To The Voices" with Link Wray which was released on Music City Records. Welz also recorded an album called "Revival Fires" with Roy Buchanan in the late 1960s.[2] After Haley's death in 1981 Welz organized a Comets reunion which was performed on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder on NBC. This was followed by a tour of America and a single penned by Welz, Al Rappa and Franny Beecher entitled "Bring Back the Music" in 1982.
Welz spent a majority of the 1980s in the studio with the Great Train Robbery, recording heavier rock and roll, including "In My Car", "Rockin' In America", and a heavy metal version of "Rock Around The Clock" which Welz co-wrote with the original writer James E. Myers.[2][4][5]
He is the owner and CEO of Canadian-American Records and Caprice International Records.[6] In the 1990s Welz began writing and recording country music in Nashville with the Nashville Now Band and placed several singles on the Cashbox chart including a country version of "Rock Around the Clock", "One Way Ticket", "Rockabilly", "Back to a Better Time" and the "Nashville Now Boogie".[7]
In 1992, Welz signed with Caprice International/BMG.
Since the early 2000s Welz has annually toured in France with the Captain Joe Combo.[4]
Welz continues to write and produce new albums up to the present day.[8]
Personal lifeedit
Welz currently resides in Lititz, Pennsylvania, where he has converted his home into a museum known as The Rock Around The Clock Hall of Fame.
Honorsedit
1992: Rockabilly Hall of Fame (the Netherlands)
2005: International Rockabilly Hall of Fame (Jackson, Tennessee)[9]
2008: Memphis Heritage Music Hall of Fame (Memphis, Tennessee)
Selected discographyedit
Albumsedit
1967: Vintage Ballads to Remember Her By (Palmer Records)
1972: The Ivory Decade of Joey Welz (Canadian American)
1974: Listen to the Voices That Want to Be Free (Music City Records)
1989: My Kind of Country Is Rock 'N' Roll (Caprice International Records)
1990: Awake (Caprice International Records)
1991: Revival Fires — Joey Welz and Roy Buchanan (Palmer Records)
2013: Link Wray Featuring Joey Welz - Rumble & Roll (Music Avenue)
2016: 21st Century Song Man (Canadian American/ Sony Music)
2017: Rock Around the Clock — Joey Welz The Comet MC (Canadian American / Sony Records)
2018: Livin' in a Hip Hop World (Canadian American / Sony Music)
Singlesedit
1959: "Boppin' the Stroll" (Bat Records)
1963: "The Whistling Piano Man / The Mystery of Love" (Bat Records)
1965: "I'm a Lonely Guy / Hey Rattlesnake" (Leedle)
1968: "Ponchinello (You Silly Little Clown) / A Soldier's Star" (Canadian-American Records)
1983: "In My Car" (Fraternity Records)
1986: "Rock Around the Clock" (Caprice International Records)
1986: "The Return of Haley's Comet" (Caprice International Records)
1987: "Rockin' in America / Dancin' in the U.S.A." (American Radio Records)
1987: "I Love the Radio" (American Radio Records)
1987: "In My Car" (Caprice International Records)
1992: "Spanish Rose From Mexico" (Caprice International Records)
Referencesedit
^ ab"Joseph W Welzant: United States Census, 1940". FamilySearch. 26 April 1940.
^Quinn, Tom (July 2013). "Boy With A Dream (and some scissors and glue)". Tapewrecks.
^ abc"Joey Welz, The Rockin' Piano Comet". BlackCat Rockabilly Europe. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
^Welz, Joey (2007). "Top 15 Radio Hits of the 80s". CD Baby.
^Prato, Greg. "Joey Welz Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
^Welz, Joey (1991). "Back To A Better Time". CD Baby.
^"Joey Welz Bio". JoeyWelz.com. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
^. Rockabilly Hall of Fame. 2005. Archived from the original on 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
Further readingedit
Fuchs, Otto (2008). "15. Kapitel – The Comet Tales – Interview mit Joey Welz". Bill Haley: Vater des Rock 'n' Roll (in German). Gelnhausen: Wagner. pp. 311–323. ISBN978-3-866-83351-7. OCLC 234368658.
Fuchs, Otto (2011). "Chapter Twenty: The Comet Tales – An Interview With Joey Welz". Bill Haley: The Father of Rock & Roll. Gelnhausen: Wagner. pp. 490–501. ISBN978-3-866-83901-4. OCLC 774634980.
Joey Welz Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2019)
April 11, 2024
joey, welz, joseph, welz, born, welzant, march, 1940, american, musician, best, known, tenure, pianist, with, bill, haley, comets, background, informationbirth, namejoseph, welzantborn, 1940, march, 1940, baltimore, maryland, originbaltimore, maryland, genresr. Joseph W Welz 1 born Welzant March 17 1940 is an American musician best known for his tenure as pianist with Bill Haley amp His Comets Joey WelzBackground informationBirth nameJoseph W WelzantBorn 1940 03 17 March 17 1940 age 84 Baltimore Maryland U S OriginBaltimore Maryland U S GenresRockabillyOccupation s MusicianInstrument s PianoYears active1950s presentWebsiteJoeyWelz com Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Honors 5 Selected discography 5 1 Albums 5 2 Singles 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life and education editWelz was born in Baltimore to Melba Welzant a teacher and concert pianist and Joseph Welzant a Baltimore city police officer 1 2 Career editWelz started his music career with his group the Jay Rockers in the 1950s Welz was amongst the first group of rock and roll pianists to start using the boogie woogie style with his left hand He attributes this to the lack of a bassist in his band forcing him to play basslines using his left hand In interviews he has stated that it also came in handy when he joined the Comets because the notes coming from the upright bass were often inaudible due to the limits of amplification at that time 3 He attracted the attention of Bill Haley when The Jay Rockers opened for the Comets While serving as a recording engineer for the Armed Forces Network in Berlin Welz recorded and co produced a live session for Bill Haley amp His Comets for AFN Frankfurt This was the first occasion that Welz played on a Bill Haley amp His Comets record providing backing vocals on Shake Rattle and Roll and playing on Honky Tonk citation needed This session was released years later on Hydra Records Upon exiting the military in 1963 Welz joined the Comets as pianist following the departure of Johnny Grande It was also during this time that Welz signed a record deal with Canadian American Records and released the single Hey Little Moonbeam which he co wrote with Steve Lawrence He would continue to play with The Comets until 1966 4 In 1969 Welz recorded an album entitled Listen To The Voices with Link Wray which was released on Music City Records Welz also recorded an album called Revival Fires with Roy Buchanan in the late 1960s 2 After Haley s death in 1981 Welz organized a Comets reunion which was performed on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder on NBC This was followed by a tour of America and a single penned by Welz Al Rappa and Franny Beecher entitled Bring Back the Music in 1982 Welz spent a majority of the 1980s in the studio with the Great Train Robbery recording heavier rock and roll including In My Car Rockin In America and a heavy metal version of Rock Around The Clock which Welz co wrote with the original writer James E Myers 2 4 5 He is the owner and CEO of Canadian American Records and Caprice International Records 6 In the 1990s Welz began writing and recording country music in Nashville with the Nashville Now Band and placed several singles on the Cashbox chart including a country version of Rock Around the Clock One Way Ticket Rockabilly Back to a Better Time and the Nashville Now Boogie 7 In 1992 Welz signed with Caprice International BMG Since the early 2000s Welz has annually toured in France with the Captain Joe Combo 4 Welz continues to write and produce new albums up to the present day 8 Personal life editWelz currently resides in Lititz Pennsylvania where he has converted his home into a museum known as The Rock Around The Clock Hall of Fame Honors edit1992 Rockabilly Hall of Fame the Netherlands 2005 International Rockabilly Hall of Fame Jackson Tennessee 9 2008 Memphis Heritage Music Hall of Fame Memphis Tennessee Selected discography editAlbums edit 1967 Vintage Ballads to Remember Her By Palmer Records 1972 The Ivory Decade of Joey Welz Canadian American 1974 Listen to the Voices That Want to Be Free Music City Records 1989 My Kind of Country Is Rock N Roll Caprice International Records 1990 Awake Caprice International Records 1991 Revival Fires Joey Welz and Roy Buchanan Palmer Records 2013 Link Wray Featuring Joey Welz Rumble amp Roll Music Avenue 2016 21st Century Song Man Canadian American Sony Music 2017 Rock Around the Clock Joey Welz The Comet MC Canadian American Sony Records 2018 Livin in a Hip Hop World Canadian American Sony Music Singles edit 1959 Boppin the Stroll Bat Records 1963 The Whistling Piano Man The Mystery of Love Bat Records 1965 I m a Lonely Guy Hey Rattlesnake Leedle 1968 Ponchinello You Silly Little Clown A Soldier s Star Canadian American Records 1983 In My Car Fraternity Records 1986 Rock Around the Clock Caprice International Records 1986 The Return of Haley s Comet Caprice International Records 1987 Rockin in America Dancin in the U S A American Radio Records 1987 I Love the Radio American Radio Records 1987 In My Car Caprice International Records 1992 Spanish Rose From Mexico Caprice International Records References edit a b Joseph W Welzant United States Census 1940 FamilySearch 26 April 1940 a b c Granahan Gerry December 2009 The Joey Welz Story Keep Rockin 1 6 72 76 Quinn Tom July 2013 Boy With A Dream and some scissors and glue Tapewrecks a b c Joey Welz The Rockin Piano Comet BlackCat Rockabilly Europe Retrieved 28 August 2014 Welz Joey 2007 Top 15 Radio Hits of the 80s CD Baby Prato Greg Joey Welz Biography AllMusic Retrieved 25 August 2014 Welz Joey 1991 Back To A Better Time CD Baby Joey Welz Bio JoeyWelz com Retrieved 25 August 2014 Rockabilly Hall of Fame Inductees 0253 Joey Welz Rockabilly Hall of Fame 2005 Archived from the original on 2019 05 18 Retrieved 2018 01 03 Further reading editFuchs Otto 2008 15 Kapitel The Comet Tales Interview mit Joey Welz Bill Haley Vater des Rock n Roll in German Gelnhausen Wagner pp 311 323 ISBN 978 3 866 83351 7 OCLC 234368658 Fuchs Otto 2011 Chapter Twenty The Comet Tales An Interview With Joey Welz Bill Haley The Father of Rock amp Roll Gelnhausen Wagner pp 490 501 ISBN 978 3 866 83901 4 OCLC 774634980 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joey Welz JoeyWelz com Joey Welz at CD Baby Joey Welz Interview NAMM Oral History Library 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joey Welz amp oldid 1156342635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
