Joe Goldmark

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JOE'S NEW CD: "BLUE STEEL"

This latest album is Joe Goldmark's most exciting album to date. He mixes original instrumentals with unusual vocal selections, creating a true Americana blend. Dallis Craft contributes gorgeous renditions of tunes written by Jeff Lynne, Graham Parker and Lefty Frizzell, while Glenn Walters works the R&B side of the street with tunes by Jimmy McCracklin, B.B. King and Rufus Thomas.
Street date: April 20, 2018. See the One Sheet

"The Wobble" from Joe's new album "Blue Steel":


THE SEDUCERS

Joe Goldmark's group, The Seducers got their name from his latest CD, "Seducing the 60s" and the band features musicians from that album. Their take on country music is fun and innovative while being true to its roots. The Seducers have been a Sunday night fixture at The Riptide & at Bird and Beckett in San Francisco, as well as other hot spots, and never fail to put on an exciting and entertaining show. Mitch Polzak, Ken Owen, Hank Maninger & Joe Goldmark, on bass, drums, guitar and pedal steel respectively, have played together and separately in many great bands. These include Jim Campilongo & The 10 Gallon Cats, Peter Rowan, The Hacienda Brothers, Bonnie Hayes, The Dave Gleason Band, Jim Lauderdale, The Twangbangers, Rancho Deluxe, and Dallas Wayne, to name a few. See the recent review at S. F. Weekly. Come out and see us every second Sunday of the month at "Bird and Beckett and every fourth Sunday at "The Riptide." no cover. To contact the Seducers email joeg5@comcast.net


A BRIEF MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY

Joe Goldmark has a unique vision for the steel guitar. He started recording in 1980, and has nine of his own albums (three vinyl, six CDs) featuring rock, pop, soul and world music played on this "country" instrument. He's successfully adapted many melodic and fun songs to the pleasing sound of the pedal steel guitar, as well as writing many of his own interesting originals.

Joe has always been a music maven. Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, he played cello from the age of nine, but also took up guitar and played in garage bands. He moved to San Francisco for High School and started playing bass in soul bands. This was during the late 60's, and Joe was enamored of the San Francisco Sound, and saw many of the greats, including Hendrix, Cream, Doors, Big Brother, etc. It was while watching Jerry Garcia play with the New Riders Of The Purple Sage, who were opening for the Grateful Dead, that Joe got bitten by the pedal steel bug. He soon dropped out of college to play the steel guitar full time, which he pretty much did for the next fifteen years. After getting married and having a son in the mid 80's, Joe was fortunate to get a day job, going into the pizza business. Ten years later, he came full circle by becoming a partner at Amoeba Music, and totally immersed in the music business. However, he never stopped playing the pedal steel, which he describes as the only instrument that makes practicing enjoyable, because of the pleasing sounds that the chords make, bending into each other.

Reviewers have called pedal steel guitarist Joe Goldmark "the legendary Kosher Kowboy, king of psychedelic steel," "the world's premier rock and roll pedal steel guitarist," and "a very talented and progressive Steel Guitar player." Joe brings the pedal steel guitar into new musical territory playing high-energy reinterpretations of rock and soul music, as well as writing and performing his own instrumentals.

Joe's recordings: "Blue Steel" (2018), "The Wham of That Steel Man" (2012), "Seducing the 60s" (2007), "Strong Like Bull...But Sensitive Like Squirrel" (2001), "All Hat - No Cattle" (1999), "Steelin' the Beatles" (1997), "All Over the Road" (1994), "Rockin' It" (1981 LP), "Vertigo" (1978 LP), "Pickin' My Pleasures" (1977 LP), and "The Goldmark Round-Up," a reissue of his 20 favorite selections remastered from the three LPs (1996). His three late 1990s albums with Jim Campilongo and the 10 Gallon Cats are considered ground breaking classics in an updated Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant vein. He also has recorded with other artists including "True Stories" with David Byrne, "Restless Rambling Heart" with Laurie Lewis, and nine albums with "The Usual Suspects," a project including Mike Bloomfield, Taj Mahal, Peter Rowan, Norton Buffalo, and Maria Muldaur. Besides his recording work, Joe has written and published The International Steel Guitar and Dobro Discography -- 8th Edition. (see Joe's Recordings page)

BANDS:

  • Seducers 2007-present.
  • Dave Gleason Band - 2004-2008
  • Twangbangers 2002 - all-star band that featured Bill Kirchen, Redd Volkaert, and Dallas Wayne.
  • Dallas Wayne: 2001-2003 What a great country singer!
  • Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats 1995-2000 - The "Cats" are an all instrumental band that play Jim's original music. Jim sounds like a mix of Jimmy Bryant and Roy Buchanan crashing the '90's!
  • Jim Lauderdale: 1994-present. Played on "country night" at the 1994 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
  • Peter Rowan: 1979-present, on and off. Misc. gigs and festivals including Telluride.
  • Mental Revenge: 1994-1995. Honky tonk C&W band that specialized in '50's & 60's C&W music, with vocalist Gary Claxton.
  • Ray Price Club: 1991-1994. Above band with his ex-wife Kathi, who also created and plays in the celebrity author band, the "Rock Bottom Remainders" (with Stephen King, Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Matt Groening, etc.).
  • Osage: 1985-1990.
  • Texas Chainsaw Band: 1980-1984. Legendary local "Country music with teeth!"
  • Billy C. Farlow Band (lead singer with Commander Cody): 1977-1978
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE:
  • Joe's has a new website, vinylbeat.com It's fun, check it out!
  • Lately Joe's been busy delving into his first love, soul music, and has put together a couple of sets called "Can You Handle It," and "Why Should We Stop Now?"
  • House steel guitar player for the BAMMIES when Dick Bright was the conductor, 1978-1984
  • recordings Writes and publishes the "International Steel Guitar Discography", which is a 220 page book that tries to list every steel guitar instrumental ever recorded. We have reviews of this publication.
  • Avid record collector.
  • Not a former member of the Grateful Dead but Joe does a great cover of their "China Cat Sunflower" on his "All Hat-No Cattle". He also played a much heralded show at the Fillmore, with David Gans & the Fallen Angels that included Phil Lesh and Vince Welnick sitting in.
  • Don't you dig his version of the Quicksilver Messenger Service tune, Edward?
  • Partner at "Amoeba Music", the greatest record store in the world.
  • Also partner in five New York style pizzerias in San Francisco called "Escape From New York Pizza". They serve a good slice.

For more info email us

Sun .au audio Order Now Sound files from both albums await in our Catalog where you can purchase them, through our on-line shopping cart system.

We have a list of records stores known to carry Joe Goldmark albums

There's more info on Joe at the "Don't Quit Your Day Job" Records site. Check steelguitarforum.com for more pedal steel guitar related sites.

Joe Goldmark
Photo by Robert Foothorap
Joe Goldmark
Photo by H. Stewart London
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