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Big Joe Maher
 

Big Joe Maher has been taking the stage for over 50 years delivering some of the best Jump Blues and Jazz in the world. Steven Tyler quoted "Big Joe is the most talented singing/drummer I have ever heard". Read Big Joe's Biography below to learn more about his eventful and impactful story.

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Joe Maher a/k/a "Big Joe" started out his music career in his Maryland high school jazz band "The Starliners.” Musician greats like Clark Terry, Urbie Green, Mudell Lowe & James Moody often sat in with the band as guest performers and were a great inspiration to him. Growing up, his father listened to lots of Louis Jordon, jazz and blues and this was an influence on his musical style as well. He started his own roots blues record collection during the time in the late 60’s when most of his friends were only into the rock-n-roll music. 

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After high school he went immediately on the road with his own jazz/blues trio.  His mission then started to become an accomplished singer/drummer.  Over time he shared the stage, opened up for or backed up music Legends: Willie Dixon, Johnny Adams, Floyd DixonDelbert McClinton, Johnnie Johnson, Mick Fleetwood, Jimmy McCracklin, Jimmy Rogers, Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Witherspoon, Bullmoose Jackson, James"Thunderbird" Davis, Nappy Brown, Jimmy T99 Nelson, Lazy LesterBobby Parker, Otis Rush & Earl King. Some of these legendary artists would often request him to back them up when coming to town knowing he would know their material and be quite adept at covering it. 

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In the late 80's after managing, performing and touring with the 9 piece swing band out of DC, The Uptown Rhythm Kings, and after a few years touring as drummer with the Tom Principato Band,  Joe formed his own 5 piece jump blues group BIG JOE & THE DYNAFLOWS.  In between touring and local performances with the Dynaflows, in the mid-90's Joe accepted the role as Music Coordinator for Mick Fleetwood's (Fleetwood Mac) nightclub in Alexandria, VA called "Fleetwoods." His knowledge of the local and national blues & jazz scene helped him land the position. Joe had the nightclub consistently filled with top notch talent. In 1997, Big Joe and his Dynaflows had the honor to perform at one of the Inauguration Balls for the 42nd President of the United States in Washington, DC. 

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The Dynaflows release "I'm Still Swingin" on Maryland based Severn Records, received the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) "Best Blues Recording" in 1998 and “Layin' in the Alley" on New Orleans based Black Top Records received "Best Blues Recording" in 1994. WAMA also voted Big Joe "Male Blues Vocalist of the Year" both in 2005 and 2009. Other Dynaflows releases include "All Night Long," “You Can't Keep a Big Man Down" and “Rock House Party” on the Severn label, "Good Rockin'Daddy" (his first release) on the Powerhouse label & "Cool Dynaflow"on European label Tramp Records. 

Along with producing or co-producing his own releases, Joe produced recordings for DC’s leading jazz bassist John Previti, premier pianist and vibraphonist John Cocuzzi and the legendary honky tonk saxophonist Joe Stanley.  

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In 2016, Big Joe was headlining a Jazz show at the Mandarin Hotel in Washington D.C., and the famous Steven Tyler sat and talked with Big Joe for over an hour discussing his admiration for Joe's singing and drumming technique. Steven quoted "Big Joe is one of the greatest signing drummers I have ever seen".

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In 2019 Joe had the honor and privilege to perform as guest drummer on DELBERT MCCLINTON’S  “Tall, Dark & Handsome”  release which won a Grammyfor “Best Traditional Blues Recording.”​​

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In 2023, Big Joe released two new Singles, "Let's Have a Time" & "Crazy People". Both tracks produced by Big Joe and executively produced by his son, Philip Maher.

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Today Big Joe still produces and performs. Big Joe mostly plays around the Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia region. Big Joe will be performing at the Columbia, Maryland Lakefront Live concert on July 4th, 2024 and on the Sandy Beaches Cruise 2025 in January 2025.

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