Often known as “Dr. Joe”, he is a virtuoso pianist and composer born in Kansas who studied at the Wichita State University and gained his Doctorate in Music from the University of Kansas.
He began his career in the 1960s where he performed a gig in Wichita, Kansas, and since then he has performed throughout the United Stated and Europe.
He has made numerous recordings since the 1960s, with one of the first being Christmas Eve at the Wurlitzer where he performed on the organ of the Miller Theatre in Wichita, before it was demolished.
Acclaimed for his performance of jazz, ballads, blues and Broadway numbers he is also recognised for his piano improvs. Each year he performs at the Tony Awards gala, each Christmas season he performs in the lobby of the Empire State Building and each week he performs at Regents in New York.
As a composer he has written over 225 compositions of which many are works for the piano, organ and harpsichord that he has received ASCAP awards for annually since 1991.
As a teacher he holds improvisation workshops and is on the faculty of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He is also Director of the Stratford Sister Cities Chorus and Organist and Music Director of the First Congregational Church of Stratford, Connecticut.
Louis Alter & Eddie DeLange recordings
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
Connoisseur CD 4215
Piano – Joe Utterback
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