Joe Exley (aka "TUBAJOE") started very early as an instrumentalist with violin lessons at the age of two when his mother decided he needed something structured to do as he was driving her nuts.  Later at age seven came the clarinet, followed by the oboe, bassoon and sax, but it was not until the age of fifteen that Joe found his true voice - the TUBA.

Raised in Denver, Joe went through typical classical training, but all the while could never get rid of the powerful influence of rock, jazz, blues, and funk.  Joe stuck to his guns and completed conventional music schooling, first at the University of Northern Colorado, then heading off to the big city and legendary "Tuba-Mecca" Chicago for graduate school at Northwestern University as well as bigger and brighter things. It was there in Chicago where Joe became a disciple of urban life.

While still in school, 'shedding' a steady diet of orchestral excerpts, sonatas, concerti, and other typical historical reproduction, Joe became in demand as a freelance player in orchestras and chamber groups. ...but not able to deny his roots of popular music and jazz, Joe ended up playing on TV themes, rock albums, and touring with many dance and jazz bands.

Now based in New York City, Joe has performed thousands of performances with literally hundreds of ensembles and is a part of many creative scenes, performing regularly alongside notables in jazz, avant-garde, rock, pop, commercial and classical music. As one of NYC's busiest tuba players, Joe is now making an impression worldwide for his creativity and charisma.

        -Susan Fenzl / Lorraine Tucci

here seen featured on Bravo! TV
(photo courtesy of Idiot Box Productions)

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