Bio
Joe Walsh, multi-GRAMMY award winning singer, songwriter and producer, has entertained the masses and captivated his peers for more than five decades. Joe has released 12 studio records and his numerous classic hits like “Funk #49,” “Walk Away,” “Life’s Been Good,” “Rocky Mountain Way,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” “In The City,” “Ordinary Average Guy,” and “Analog Man” embody his guitar genius and lyrical wit.
His success started with the James Gang in 1969, followed with Barnstorm, the trio he founded, and continued with the launch of his solo career in 1973, which proved him a legitimate solo act with a limitless career on the horizon.
In 1975, already well established as a successful solo artist, Walsh was recruited to join Eagles, and bring his unique and harder rock sound to the group. Eagles went on to become the highest selling American band in history, with over 150 million records sold. In 1994, after a 14-year hiatus and several solo albums, Eagles released Hell Freezes Over, which reached #1 on the Billboard charts and sparked one of the most successful tours in music history. In 1998 Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since that time they continued to tour until founding member Glenn Frey’s passing in January 2016. In July of 2017 they reunited to honor Glenn and their musical legacy with fellow Eagles Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit, accompanied by Deacon Frey and Vince Gill, for the triumphant Classic West and Classic East concert events. This led to additional stadium and arena shows around the world throughout 2018. 2019 saw them continue to play to capacity crowds garnering rave reviews, taking them into 2020 on their “Hotel California Tour,” where they played the entirety of the record that sold 26 million copies making it the third biggest selling album in American History. Like the whole of the world, the band took a break from touring during the pandemic, returning in 2021 with strict protocols in place, to stages and sold out crowds around the world. The band are currently on “The Long Goodbye Final Tour.”
In addition to his work as an Eagle, Joe has continued to be a successful solo touring and recording artist. His last release, 2012’s Analog Man, was co-produced with Jeff Lynne, and was his first solo release in 20 years. It featured 10 new songs, and in addition to being critically acclaimed, it also resonated with fans and concert audiences, and Joe found himself in high demand as a collaborator, producer, and guest musician. 2020 saw Joe in his most unusual collaboration yet, with master of Indian classical music Amjad Ali Khan and his two sons, Amaan and Ayaan, on an EP entitled “Prayers”, music created during the pandemic and offered as a spiritual healing balm for widespread human suffering. In between touring, Joe has also been back in the studio working on new music.
Throughout his career, Joe has been a recipient of honors and accolades including an Honorary Doctorate from Kent State University; Berklee School of Music gave each of the Eagles Honorary Doctors of Music degrees; December 4th, 2016 Walsh became a Kennedy Center Honor recipient as a member of the Eagles, which was presented by Ringo Starr.
MoPop gave Walsh “The Founders Award”, also presented by Ringo Starr and Paul Allen. The event included a tribute concert celebrating Walsh’s substantial musical legacy by Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, Paul Rodgers, Todd Rundgren, Robert Randolph and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. In October 2018 Facing Addiction with NCADD honored Joe and Marjorie Walsh at their annual gala for their enduring and inspiring service and support of addicts and alcoholics in recovery. Their brother & sister in law, Ringo and Barbara Starkey, presented their award.
In 2017 Walsh launched VetsAid, his 501c3 non-profit organization. Now in its sixth year, VetsAid hosted its inaugural show on September 20, 2017 with a concert at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA featuring performances by Walsh, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban and Gary Clark Jr. In 2018, VetsAid traveled to Tacoma, WA with a sell-out event featuring Walsh, Don Henley, James Taylor, Chris Stapleton, Haim and special guest Ringo Starr. In 2019, Houston, TX welcomed VetsAid for a blockbuster show with Walsh, ZZ Top, The Doobie Brothers, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley. The pandemic moved the festival online in 2020 and 2021 with intimate performances from Eddie Vedder, James Hetfield, Gwen Stefani and nearly 40 other artists from across the United States as well as the debut of new music from Walsh in his studio available via livestream.
VetsAid 2022 was an instant sell-out all-Ohio affair with blistering sets from a newly reunited James Gang, NIN, The Black Keys and The Breeders with special guest Dave Grohl in Joe’s hometown of Columbus, OH. VetsAid is committed to curating an exclusive once-in-a-lifetime festival lineup in a different American city each year with a large veteran and military population.
VetsAid 2023 will feature full sets from Jeff Lynne’s ELO, The War on Drugs, The Flaming Lips, Lucius and Walsh himself with a special guest appearance by Stephen Stills. The show will take place at 5:00pm on Sunday, November 12, 2023, at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre near San Diego, CA.
To date, VetsAid has disbursed $3 million dollars to organizations that support veterans and their families.