Joe Firstman & Family

Since being declared the Singer/Songwriter of the Year by the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2001, Joe Firstman has risen to national prominence as leader of the house band on Last Call with Carson Daly. But Joe also co-wrote the title track off of Josh Kelly’s CD Almost Honest, toured with Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Lisa Marie Presley and Willie Nelson, for whom he has written tunes along with Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin.

The North Carolina native’s solo career, meanwhile, has taken off with his Atlantic debut album, 2004’s The War of Women, which gave him an AAA hit with “Breaking All the Ground” as well as the single “Now You’re Gorgeous, Now You’re Gone”, and with two EPs, Wives Tales and his latest, Live at the Sandbox. A talented singer, guitarist, and piano (his first instrument) player, Joe is a tunesmith of the first order, crafting roots-inflected pop that is catchy, heartfelt and filled with the sunshine and ocean breezes of his adopted hometown.