Hello. I am honored that you have taken the time to visit my site. Thank you for stopping in. Below is my very “formal” information about my musical background. I guess what’s missing is information about my personality. I have a great family which I hold as my highest priority. I’m an avid music learner. I have a few private students who always bring fresh materials and ideas to explore. I’m an ex-hockey nut, I used to play bar league until my knees said stop. Lately I’ve been into running 5k’s. I like to grab my classical guitar and head out to a quiet spot on the reservation and play. I love to check into the Karma Café every so often to keep in tune with my friends. I like meeting out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or coffee. I love to support my fellow musicians, and nurture the development of fresh talent. When ever I have a chance, you’ll find me bouncing around to jam sessions or club gigs, just checking out the scene. Regards, Joe
Biography:
Joseph Michael Mahfoud is a unique musician and bandleader. He is a classically trained and educated guitarist with wide ranging musical talents developed over 30 years. He is as comfortable playing an inspiring Mozart etude as he is playing an expressive Stevie Ray Vaughn blues lick. Joe hails from Six Nations Indian Reservation and was originally inspired by his mother to sing along with her Motown records played through a Sylvania console stereo and by his grandmother who invited bands to practice in her attic. When Joe accompanied his father backstage at a Walter Scott concert at Jacobies, Joe was asked to “plunk” out some melodies. Scott said, “You’d better get this kid a guitar.” The next pay check, Joe’s dad bought him a white Hondo II Strat copy from Edwin’s Music. Joe started guitar lessons with Al Meyers after reading his name off the wall at Super Duper shopping market. Al came to his house for $2 .00 per lesson. As they say, “the rest is history.”
At the age of 10, Joe began recruiting for his first band. His neighbor Danny played guitar, Joe’s Uncle Steve played bass and Shannon Street with a massive afro wider than his shoulders played the drums. By sixth grade the band gave a concert at public school #60. They became well known in the Riverside area of Buffalo, drawing steady crowds to the fabled “band room” behind the Projects. By age 14, he started working the club scene when he joined Crash Cadillac and the T-Street Cruisers. Crash Cadillac played steady right through completion of Joe’s high school musical education at Performing Arts.
Joe won a classical guitar competition scholarship allowing him to obtain a college degree in music education and classical guitar from the University of Buffalo. He went on to teach music at Lakeshore Middle and to own Kenmore Music Center. Occasionally, Joe continues to teach music to young people, including at intensive programs in the Charter School system.
His 2004 “Full Circle” release with The Pappy Johns Band won several Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. His most notable appearances include the Chicago Blues Fest, the Can-Ab awards at the Skydome, the Iowa Blues Fest, the Memphis Blues Fest, Fox Morning News, the Maple Blues Fest, Jeff Healy’s, and the Saskatoon Blues Fest.
Joseph most recent full length recordings include the 2008 release titled, “Thirteen Moons,” with Carmen Intorre (drummer with Joey DiFrancesco), and Tim Mroz. In April 2009, Joe released “Echoes in Time” with Rodney Appleby (bassist with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple), and Ted Reinhardt (drummer with Spyro Gyra and Gamalon).
He has been the past band leader for, among others, the Faron Johns Band, JJ Swing, the Hurricanes, the Syndicate, and Universal Grille. Joseph has played sideman to Gap Mangione, James Cotton, Sherman Robertson, Jimmy Griswold, Lance Diamond, Process and Dew Rags, the Jony James Band, and the Rod Nixon Project. In addition to his latest release with Appleby-Reinhardt-Mahfoud, Joseph’s gigs range from weddings with About Face Band to blues with The Stevie Project.