Joe Hurley

Artist Description

Widely Widely heralded for the highly emotive quality of his deep, gravel-tinged baritone, and for his poignant and cinematic storytelling,"NYC musical luminary Joe Hurley strikes a chord with audiences across the globe”- PLAYBACK MAGAZINE.  He is the leader of two bands, Rogue’s March, and Joe Hurley & The Gents, and "one of the greatest singer-songwriters to emerge on the NY scene in the last 20 years" - John Swenson (ROLLING STONE EDITOR-Co-author of ROLLING STONE RECORD GUIDE)

 “Cut from the same cloth as Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen”-NY POST, this London-bred, Irish-blooded New Yorker is an acclaimed rock & roll balladeer & playwright/actor. Hurley’s songs are an eclectic mix of heartbreaking ballads, rootsy rock & roll, music-hall, alt-country, & poetic lyrics.

"An astonishingly cohesive sound..showcasing a star-powered frontman in Joe Hurley" -BILLBOARD

Joe Hurley, along with Johnny Depp and Keith Richards narrated the audio book edition of LIFE by Keith Richards, to be released November 16, 2010. “When you read the book, you feel that Keith’s sitting in his favourite armchair,reflecting,and sharing his wild ride, his life, with just you.” says Hurley.

 Hurley's classic Christmas waltz, “Amsterdam Mistress” is featured on the new SONY RECORDS compilation “Essential Irish Drinking Songs” and was called, “One of the most evocative ballads ever penned.”- IRISH ECHO  A GIBSON-endorsed artist, Hurley has performed over 1000 shows in the USA and abroad, from Lincoln Centre & Central Park Summerstage in NYC to recent sold-out festivals in Belfast & Paris and 10 days as 'Musical Artist in Residence' at the International Berlin Literature Festival 2010. At the Literature Festival, Hurley participated in Authors For Peace- a live, 24 hour global broadcast in which 75 authors from around the world read their works consecutively on the UN's International World Day of Peace.  The record will be featured in the Guinness World Record Book 2012 due out next September.

 Called "The best singer of vowels in rock.."by NY’s VILLAGE VOICE, Hurley was recently the featured guest vocalist with THE CHIEFTAINS and has sung and/or recorded with a dizzyingly diverse array of artists including  Ian Hunter, Sam Shepard, Marianne Faithfull, PJ Harvey, Tony Visconti, Shane MacGowan, Steve Wynn, Nellie Mckay, Martha Wainwright, and LaLa Brooks of The Crystals.

Hurley’s new CD “The House That Horse Built” (Let The Great World Spin) written with 2009 National Book Award Winner Colum McCann & inspired by the novel, tells the tale of a prostitute’s life, circa 1974 NYC. The CD, called "Magnificent" NEW YORK POST, features a star-studded cast of musicians; Paddy Moloney of THE CHIEFTAINS, Soul-legend TAMI LYNN (Stones ‘Exile on Main St’, Dr.John), Matt Sweeney (Johnny Cash) and Hurley’s Gents.(members of Ian Hunter & Patti Smith Group) Hurley/McCann's European Tour saw them play Ships in Hamburg, Palaces in Paris, HouseBoats in London, and former insane asylums in Austria.

 "He's an old seanchai in a rock star's shoes, a poet of microcosm with a stereoscopic vision, a balladeer with a whole lot of landscape in his voice...Joe Hurley is one of the great songwriters of our time" 2009 National Book Award Winner COLUM McCANN

Hurley sings “Ghost Riders in the Sky” with Judy Collins and Jimmy Webb on Collins new CD, 'Paradise'. His songs have been in numerous feature films, and acting credits include his self-penned one-man play 'The King Of Upton Park' (The twisted tale of an English football hooligan's life) which The VOICE called "a cross between 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'Three Penny Opera' ."

His wildly diverse recordings include "Bleeding Claret & Blue", written for East London's WEST HAM FC  ( adopted by supporters clubs websites worldwide as their theme song), and two Live CDs of his versions of  gems from Gainsbourg, Cash, Roxy, Bowie, Bacharach. "Some performances stood out. Joe Hurley's raw interpretation of Nillson's 'All I Think About is You" conjured up closing time in a graveyard bar." NEW YORK TIMES

 Hurley's sold out TREX Celebration at the Delacorte Theatre included musical guests Patti Smith, Moby, Lloyd Cole,2 New York Dolls, Blondie's Clem Burke, Scissor Sisters and Film actress Cara Seymour.  He recently sang at the PUBLIC THEATER of NY's Gala Fundraiser w/ Jimmy Webb, Shawn Colvin, Judy Collins.  

"Outstanding concert performances...Best of all was Joe Hurley's rumbling bass-baritone version of 'Send In The Clowns" NEW YORK TIMES

 Joe Hurley's 11-year running 'All-Star Irish Rock Revue' (stars singing 'The Great Irish Songbook') "receives raves every year" - NEW YORK MAGAZINE w/ guests like Ronnie Spector, Fountains of Wayne, Gogol Bordello, and members of The NY Dolls, Dictators, Mekons, Television.