Education
Vannelli studied music theory in Montreal, and learned to play piano.
Vannelli studied music theory in Montreal, and learned to play piano.
He was influenced by artists like Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck and Erroll Garner. During the seventies he developed an interest in electronic instruments. He was one of the early synthesizer players.
He contributed to most of Gino"s albums as a composer, producer, arranger, programmer and engineer
Apart from his work with Gino and Ross, he has been credited by many artists like Chaka Khan, Eartha Kitt, Gary Morris, David Meece, Kudasai, Marilyn Scott, Jimmy Haslip, Brenda Russell, Pat Thomi, Don Sebesky, Kit Chan, Bill Meyers, Gianni Bella and Glenn Jones. There Gino managed to get past security and catch Herb Alpert.
After liking what he heard resulting from Gino"s audition, Alpert signed him on. Foreign most of Gino"s career, Joe was his keyboard player and arranger.
In the early 70"s Joe would overdub most of the multiple keyboard parts to create that certain progressive sound of the early 1970s.
This was a time when polyphonic synthesizers weren"t around. Along with Gino, he co produced the 1986 Chronology album for David Meece which was released on Myrrh Records and co wrote "Seventy Times Seven" and "Come That Day". Vannelli and Burton Cummings co-produced Cummings"s 2008 album Above the Ground which was the first album release for Cummings in approximately 18 years.
In 2009 he produced Not So Silent Night..Christmas with REO Speedwagon for REO Speedwagon.
The following year more awards came for "Wild Horses" and "Young Lover". Today, Joe Vannelli has a studio in Agoura Hills, California.
He was credited on most records of his brother, Gino Vannelli, and in collaboration with youngest brother Ross Vannelli, the three have won many awards. Vannelli has won six Juno Awards and was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including one for best arrangement. One Juno award was for Recording Engineer of the Year.
