Joel Tepp is an American multi-instrumentalist (

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

, harmonica, clarinet) with a 40-year history in live and recorded music. He was born in 1948. He majored in criminology at

UC Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant uni ...

, where he was a gymnast, a gold medalist on the

pommel horse The pommel horse is an artistic gymnastics apparatus. Traditionally, it is used by only male gymnasts. Originally made of a metal frame with a wooden body and a leather cover, the modern pommel horse has a metal body covered with foam rubber and ...

and a member of the 1968 NCAA national championship team along with

Dan Millman Daniel Jay Millman (born February 22, 1946) is an American author and lecturer in the personal development field. He is best-known for the movie Peaceful Warrior, which is based on his own life and taken from one of his books. Early life Millman ...

('' Way of the Peaceful Warrior''). He then completed another round of studies in music at

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

. His performance beginnings were in American Roots music where Tepp learned his trade directly from masters such as

Johnny Shines John Ned Shines (April 26, 1915 – April 20, 1992) was an American blues singer and guitarist. Biography Shines was born in the community of Frayser, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was taught to play the guitar by his mother and spent most of h ...

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, John Lee Hooker,

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and

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. His first instrumental acclaim came on harmonica and clarinet. Working out of Los Angeles, he transitioned to folk, rock and songwriter-based music in the mid-1970s, performing or recording with Bonnie Raitt,

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Wendy Waldman and others. At this same time, Joel's slide guitar work began to attract attention as well. While certainly facile in traditional blues and rock styles on that instrument, he has gradually developed a signature sound that includes elements of pedal steel and other various unusual harmonics and voicings. Other activities in the Los Angeles music scene included his stint as the MC at The Troubadour for the legendary Monday night talent showcases. In conjunction with his partner Matt Kramer, the two introduced or previewed many artists who have become mainstays in the music world including

Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on the underbelly of society and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He worked primarily in jazz during ...

, Rikki Lee Jones,

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and Gail Davies, among many others. Today, Joel resides in Seattle and is a familiar face as a multi-instrument accompanist at Northwest concerts, in California, Kerrville and elsewhere. He still regularly adds his slide guitar, harmonica and clarinet playing to the music of Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat,

, Caroline Aiken and many others. His recording credits include Jerry Garcia, Crazy Horse,

John David Souther John David "J. D." Souther (born November 2, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He has written and co-written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles. Souther is probably best known for his songwriting abilities, especi ...

Kate & Anna McGarrigle Kate McGarrigle (February 6, 1946 – January 18, 2010) and Anna McGarrigle (born December 4, 1944) were a duo of Canadian singer-songwriters (and sisters) from Quebec, who performed until Kate McGarrigle's death on January 18, 2010. Music ...

, several major films, television shows and much more. His slide guitar workshops and classes on the Art of Accompaniment are often parts of various music festivals, particularly on the West Coast. In addition to his work as a musician, Joel Tepp is a

financial advisor A financial adviser or financial advisor is a professional who provides financial services to clients based on their financial situation. In many countries, financial advisors must complete specific training and be registered with a regulatory ...

and father of Rhea Tepp, an experimental artist/musician who performs in the project Lilacs and is co-founder of L.A. Zine Fest and free form radio station Only For the Open Minded.

Discography

* Karen Alexander : Isn't It Always Love (1975) * Caroline Aiken : Are We There Yet, Mama? (2005) *Bear Family Records : 30th Anniversary (2005) *Marc Bristol : Sweet Misery Moan (1994) *Marc Bristol : The Best of Marc Bristol - Country, Vol 1 (2002) *Marc Bristol : On the Edge of Romance: The Best of Mark Bristol (2003) *Buffalo Nickel Jug Band : The Buffalo Nickel Jug Band (1972) * Crazy Horse : Loose (1971) *Dynamic Logs : The Vinyl Reunion (1985) * File Gumbo Zydeco Band : Mardi Gras in New Orleans (1998) * Jerry Garcia : Garcia (Compliments of Garcia) ( 1974) *Denny Hall : All Good Things…Studio Sessions (2004) *Denny Hall : The Nite Cafe (2006) *John Hall : John Hall (1978) *

Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...

- Live @ McCabes 1974 * Little Feat - Live From O'Mahony's (2005) * Little Feat : Live From Neon Park (1996) * Little Feat : Hotcakes and Outtakes (2000) *Jelly w/Amy Madigan : A True Story (1977) * Ian Matthews : Some Days You Eat the Bear, Some Days the Bear Eats You (1974) * Ian Matthews : Go For Broke (1975) * Ian Matthews : Siamese Friends (1979) *

: Orphans & Outcasts vol 1 (1993) *

: Seattle Years 1978-1984 (1996) *

: ''

'' (1976) *

: '' Entre Lajeunesse et la sagesse (French Record)'' (1980) *

: The Global Blues (1979) *

: Runnin' from the Devil (2000) *

: KEZX Album Project 2 (1986) *

: Classics (2004) *

: The Hereafter/Songs For Shelter (2005) *The Olson Brothers : River in the Rain (1992) * Jim Page : Human Interesting (2003) * Bonnie Raitt : Live from the Record Plant 9-12-1973 * Ginny Reilly : Oh, Reilly! (1986) *j.r. richards *The Sibling Bros : AfriQueen Stare (2003) *Washington : Washington (1989) *

: John David Souther (1972) *Jim Sullins : Inside Thunder Outside Laughing (1974) *Rod Taylor : Rod Taylor (1973) *Kim Townsend: Wayworn Traveler (2003) *

Wendy Waldman Wendy Waldman (born November 29, 1950) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Biography Early life Waldman (born Wendy Steiner) grew up in the Los Angeles area. She was raised in a musical environment: her father Fred Steiner ...

: Sail Away (2006) *Gypsy Symphony (1974) *Leslie West : The Great Fatsby (1975) *Leslie West : Blood of the Sun: 1969-1975 (1996) *

Cris Williamson Cris Williamson (born 1947) is an American feminist singer-songwriter and recording artist. She was a visible lesbian political activist, during an era when few who were unconnected to the lesbian community were aware of Homosexual, Gay and Lesb ...

: Prairie Fire (1985) *

: Best of Chris Williamson (1990)

Films

*'' Walking Tall'' Part 1 *'' Walking Tall'' Part II *''Goldy, Last of the Golden Bears'' *'' Paint Your Wagon'' *''Great Texas Dynamite Chase'' *'' White Line Fever'' *''Jessie's Girls'

References

External links

Joel Tepp home pageJoel Tepp King of Blues contest winner page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tepp, Joel Living people 1948 births University of California, Berkeley alumni UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture alumni American country guitarists American folk guitarists American male guitarists American multi-instrumentalists American rock guitarists American session musicians American clarinetists American harmonica players 20th-century American guitarists 21st-century clarinetists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians