Joel Rafael is an award winning, internationally
recognized songwriter from San Diego County.
He won the Kerrville Folk Festival "New Folk Award"
in 1995.
Rafael is also considered to be one of the most
natural interpreters of Woody Guthrie's songs, and has
been a featured performer at the annual Woody Guthrie
Folk Festival in Woody's hometown of Okemah,
Oklahoma since it's inception nine years ago.
His two most recent CDs on Inside Recordings (an
independent record company started by Jackson Browne
and his management team) contain over two dozen
Woody Guthrie compositions including five previously
unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics to which Rafael
composed the music. The lyrics were given to Joel by
Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, who is in charge of
the "Woody Guthrie Archives" and administrates the use
of Woody's written and illustrated works.
Rafael has three other recordings of original material,
and is currently working a new album of original songs.
He has toured the U.S. extensively over the last
decade both as a solo artist and with the Joel Rafael Band
(Jamaica Rafael on violin and vocals, Carl Johnson on guitar, and
Jeff Berkley on percussion).
Rafael is also a member of the national touring
"Ribbon Of Highway Endless Skyway" cast (a revue honoring
Woody's songs and writings) which also includes
Jimmy LaFave, Bob Childers, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves,
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion.
Ciao Joel ,Thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. you are fantastic ..really. talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy neal
Joel, I enjoyed your page, as it's been a while since my last visit. I've uploaded some new tracks from the golden age of SOUTHERN EDGE, and if you have time, could you listen a little bit? Thanks, John Pedersen "keyboardist for Southern Edge"
Thanks for accepting our request Joel. We'll see you in Santa Monica this weekend at the L.A. Acoustic Music Festival. We'll be there listening to all the great music and raising awareness of hepatitis C. :) kelly z
Hi Joel, Great to have you as a friend!! Best wishes, Mike (Brett Huckfield's promo team). PS Please check out Brett's debut release 'Here Again' (available on iTunes, Amazon, Napster etc.) Hope you enjoy the music!!
We just got back from the annual FAR-West conference. You should consider going next year when it's in Irvine. Lots of really great music, jam sessions, etc. www. far-west. org
Happy New Year! We wish you a very happy and healthy year. We hope it's a year of peace and prosperity for all. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thanks for adding me as your friend. Happy cautious April fool's Day and hope you stay protected. Tell me when you perform again in Norman town city Gina with the parrots
