Before becoming an elected member of the Syracuse City Common Council, our guest, Joe Driscoll, played worldwide and formed a fantastic duo with Sekou Kouyate, a Guinean musician considered one of the most innovative virtuosic players of the kora, the 21-stringed West African harp.
Joe's relationship with music started when he was a kid; his mother would use music as a pacifier to soothe little Joe's rambunctious and hyper-energetic personality. Fast forward many years, Joe decided to travel to London and then tour around Europe, where he would meet Sekou at a festival in Marseille. Together, they played at hundreds of festivals and venues across Europe, North America, and Africa, generating incendiary musical reactions whenever they set foot on stage.
In this episode, we delve into Joe's fascinating life story. We talk about how he developed his unique style, blending folk, funk, and hip-hop, his decision to leave the US, and the breathtaking experience of playing for tens of thousands of people at festivals all over the world. We also talk about his passion for beatboxing, the influence Colin Aberdeen had on his career, and the magical moment when he was locked in a room with Sekou, both non-speakers of each other language, and managed to write a whole album together.
Joe also shared why he decided to come back to America and participate in Bernie Sanders' campaign and why he decided to get involved and become an elected official.
Tune in and listen to episode 2 of Front Row Syracuse and get a closer look at this progressive politician, talented musician, and gifted son of Syracuse.
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