Joel Weiss

One of the biggest pleasures, and regrets in my life, was that I worked with two musical monsters when I was too young and too stupid to understand what they were saying. When I was 19 I began studying voice with Todd Duncan, and my college mentor/advisor was Michael Cordovana. Good grief, I’d love to be able to work with them now – although sadly, I am still probably not smart enough to understand all their genius.

I moved to NYC after school and picked out a living as a singer, composer, actor and dancer (we don’t like to talk about the last one very much). I had some good times, some bad, and wouldn’t change a thing.

In 2008 I got sick, and after 3 years of searching the greats at the Mayo Clinic found “Chuck” (yes, we named the tumor) and on March 1, 2011 they removed the sob. I am feeling great, getting stronger and am grateful for my doctors at Mayo and the World Trade Center Health Organization.

My musical influences are many, but Richard Rodgers is the biggest. I was interviewed once on a local morning radio show in a town where a piece I wrote was being premiered, and was asked who my favorite composer was. When I said Richard Rodgers she chuckled and gave me a surprised look, but for my money no one wrote better tunes than he. I was told I have a good face for radio.

What comes first, the music or the lyrics? For me, it’s the lyrics, and I have sure worked with some greats. From Shakespeare to Tennyson, Frost to Fitzgerald, Rossetti to Anonymous, as well as my collaborations with David L. Williams, my music would be nothing without their brilliant poetry.

There’s not much more to bore you with – I was fortunate to be spawned by good parents, I met a girl who can put up with me and have more friends than enemies. To quote the Gershwins, who could ask for anything more? – jaws