He started playing at the age of 15. His first instruments were banjo, acoustic guitar, & mandolin. At the age of 16 he got his first fiddle.

His biggest influences were Chubby Wise and Tommy Jackson.

From 1971 to 1977 he worked on weekends at a Gospel Radio Station where he became Program Director upon graduating high school.

From 1977 to 1982 he worked on the "Revamped Louisiana Hayride" as Music Director.

In 1978 he became a partner with George Clinton in Southern Star Recording Studio.

In early 1984 he moved to Colorado Springs to form a band called "Cimarron" and this is where he met Darlene. The band played the club circuit and in 1985 won the Marlboro Country Music Roundup for Colorado.

In 1986 he and Darlene married and moved to Nashville TN. where Joe joined John Anderson in July 1986 and still tours with him today. He started doing sessions in between road gigs. He has recorded with artist such as John Anderson, Merle Haggard, Tracy Lawrence, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, as well as Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, Hank Williams Jr, & Clay Walker, to name a few.

In 1998 Joe became partners once again with George Clinton in Bayou Recording Studio.
Joe heard the Time Jumpers in early 2003. That same night he was asked to fill a vacant rhythm guitar chair. From that moment, he was hooked. When Hoot Hester left in 2004, Joe was asked to become a Time Jumper.

He enjoys collecting cameras, Victrolas and studying Music History.