100 organically-grown acoustic folk and blues music for creative people who seek a sincere and poetic voice of truth, love, peace, positivity, and melodic dedication to ecological and cultural sustainability.

9 MP3 Songs in this album (43:54) !
Related styles: FOLK: Folk-Rock, FOLK: Folk Blues

People who are interested in Bruce Springsteen John Lee Hooker Ben Harper should consider this download.


Details:
"I believe that the Creator blesses us all with unique and special gifts and that an important part of our journey on this earth is the sharing of these gifts with others.

I have learned that music and song writing are some of my gifts and that when I share them openly I can inspire happiness in myself and in listeners.

This is why I have chosen music as a calling.

I want to articulate the vision of beauty and peace that has been shown to me. When I perform, the Creator, God, allows my true self to shine through: good, bad, and all sides. Music is my soul and my expression, my art. It has been a part of my spirit since before I was born and continues to be an integral part of who I am."

Whether strumming for a few friends around a campfire or performing for hundreds of people at at pow-wow, Joe Reilly is able to use music as an artistic and creative expression of emotion and celebration of life.

He carves poetry out of the atmosphere and cultivates melodic growth from the earth with only his voice, acoustic guitar, and spirit.

He has maintained his original musical talent as a solo performer while playing with the band "Bar Sugar" as well as other ensembles such as the Native American drum group "Treetown" and the poetic hip-hop collective the "Long-Hairz."

A natural singer and songwriter, Joe has been incorporating life's experiences into an evolving sound of organic blues and folk music throughout his humble 23 years of earthly existence. Joe's earliest influences were his parents, David and Mary Jo Reilly, who sing and play guitar together. Other influences include plants, animals, the earth's rotation, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, and all of creation. Joe is also influenced by magic and bright shiny objects.

Born and raised in the mythical village of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Joe is Italian, Cherokee, and Irish American, a potent mix of natural energy. Joe is actively involved in Native American communities around Michigan and strives to make this world a better place for future generations.

In his underatanding, this means fighting racism, hatred, colonial forces, and evil powers on all levels with love, patience, understanding, and music. Through live performances and recordings he is actively sharing a gift of music in positive tones throughout Turtle Island (North America) and challenging people around the world, including himself, to "be not afraid" of themselves.

In June 2001 Joe completed his first full-length album entitled "Mothers and Daughters," on the Detroit-based Semper Records label. The album includes nine original songs with instrumental accompaniments varying from congas and upright bass to tablas and spoken word.

Producer and pianist Randy Leipnik and percussionist Jamie Rusling add years of musical experience to Joe's fresh vocals and acoustic strumming. David Reilly, Joe's father, plays bass on "Backyards," a song about family relationships: "Backyards, mothers and fathers, families loved are families torn. Destructive parents, destructive children, love is sought where love is born."

The album is made whole by the beautiful watercolor artwork created by Anishnaabe artist Le'Ana Asher of Ypsilanti, Michigan and photos by Jessica Jackson of Washington, D.C. The CD is dedicated to Joe's mother, Mary Jo Reilly, and to our mother the earth, that we may help her to heal.

"Mothers and Daughters" makes a fine addition to the musical collection of independent thinkers and passionate lovers of life who enjoy listening to honest and creative music that will make them feel good.

When asked what prompted the album title "Mothers and Daughters," Joe responded with a quote from the Vietnamese Monk Thich Nhat Hanh: "We are all children of society, but we are also mothers. If we are uprooted from society, we cannot transform it into a more livable place for us and for our children."

Following the release of "Mothers and Daughters," Joe embarked on an adventurous 60-day bus tour of the United States. With only a backpack, guitar, and a whole bunch of songs and crazy ideas, Joe rode the Greyhound to eight destinations around the country including New York City, Wahsington, D.C., Austin, Texas, San Diego, California, and Bellingham, Washington to fulfill a mission of bringing original organic music to the masses.

The grassroots America 2001 "Windy Road" tour was very successful with over 25 performances in bars, nightclubs, cantinas, record shops, art galleries, bookstores, resorts, street fairs, parks, subway stations, lakes, mountains, and apartments.

Wherever Joe finds himself, he brings his music along, and allows his fellow beings to share in a journey of internal spiritual struggles and creative laughing happiness.

Come along, leave your fears, bring a smile and some friends!