Joe with Ernie Berger of the Stratfords    Record label collage from back cover of book.                Joe with O'Donel "Butch" Levy

Over the years Joe has played bass guitar in teen groups, worked as a roadie for local club bands, and hired bands to perform at the Vaccarino's family owned restaurant. As a record collector since his pre-teens Joe grew up with '60s-'70s rock. His ever expanding musical interests branched out into various musical styles including Soul, R&B, doo-wop... even some jazz, country, folk and bluegrass. Throughout all the years of collecting he was always intrigued to find records by local artists. More recently, Joe began a quest to learn more about local artists and their recordings. His research uncovered much more of a local musical heritage than he ever imagined. In 2004 Joe published his first book "Baltimore Sounds: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Baltimore Area Pop Musicians, Bands, and Recordings 1950-1980." The book was intended to be a living history and tribute to the rich and varied musical talents of the Baltimore regional area. Included are biographies of local bands and individual musicians - regardless of whether they released records or not. Since the book was published, Joe has been contacted by many folks - including some whom he did not know how to contact - and others from groups whom he did not know who the members were - while doing his research. With all the new and updated information, Joe plans to publish an updated version to include revisions and additions to the original book, as well as expanding the coverage of local artists through the 1990's. Joe has spent years researching the hundreds of entertainers, DJ’s, nightspots, Clubs – etc – etc: Even as we type this – we’re finding additions, updates, corrections, and great tidbits of information for the next edition of the Baltimore Sounds book. That’s where we need your input! Maybe you or your sister, brother, cousin, dad or grandfather played with groups – worked the great Surf Club, Royal Theater, Hollywood Park, The Rhapsody, Club Venus, Seagull Inn, Marble Bar – etc. What can you contribute that will insure this information will be passed on to the next generation of music lovers and historians! Did your neighbor work with the Van Dykes, The Orioles, Tommy Vann? Did you keep a scrapbook? Did you see some old photos while visiting the folks in Highlandtown, Dundalk, Towson, Glen Burnie... ?? Do you have a copy of the record your teen group released??? Send us some info, photos, band cards, posters, records, dance flyers, old paper clippings – whatever... Anything to help document the history of all the great musicians from the Baltimore regional area. We will certainly give you credit for any contributions. So, let’s have fun – bring everybody up to date and start something new here! Contact Joe by email at jv45rpm@juno.com