Joe Conner, a native of Philadelphia, PA, is a multi-talented musician, affectionately called “Joe”. A drummer and auxiliary percussionist, trained in the classical and Latin genre, Joe began playing the snare drum at his father’s church at the early age of seven. With success coming early on, by the age of 12, Joe began sharing his skills by giving lessons to beginning students as well as some of his peers.

Though his roots are in gospel music, his exposure to many different kinds of music at GAMP, allowed him to develop his own style and feel for classical, Latin, hip-hop, jazz, caribbean/junkanoo, neo-soul and rhythm and blues.

Although Joe has come to create his own distinct sound and feel for each style, he never fails to acknowledge being heavily influenced by many hometown drummers like Berklee College of Music alumni “lil John” Roberts, Philly “Joe” Jones, George “Spanky” McCurdy, Andrew Tingle, Eric Tribbett, and Eric “Booty” Green. Joe can be seen periodically throughout the Tri-state area, breaking through the neo-soul scene with the fast rising Philly based band, “Aphillyation”.

This 19 year old workhorse, has already compiled an impeccable resume as he has served the Church of God in Christ Inc. (COGIC) as drummer and aux. percussionist in their jurisdictional and district meetings, is a producer for Nostaw Productions in Philadelphia, drum instructor for the Mt Sinai Christian Academy, manager of Musically Inclined Productions (M.I.P.) in Boston, and one of the musical directors at his father’s church. Joe has recently worked with American Idol Finalist, John Stevens as well. He is presently a Deans List student at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA and plans to graduate with a bachelors in Music Business/Management but says:

“I am just thankful for God’s favor and as long as I have that, who knows where you’ll see me next!”