Joe Cantafio
Since the first time he picked up a guitar at the age of twelve, Joe Cantafio was headed for great things. Sure, he played in groups. He was the lead-singer and guitarist of one of Chicago’s top rock and roll bands; Jade 50’s, later known as Jade.
His voice is has been a part of Americana since the late 70’s, heard on TV and radio commercials singing the praises of Shasta, McDonalds, Betty Crocker, Huffy Bikes and New Balance Shoes, to name a few.
He has performed on "American Bandstand" and was the music director of "Dick Clark’s Good Ol’ Rock and Roll Show" at the age of twenty-two. He toured with Wolfman Jack and has performed side by side with legends like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Del Shannon, Three Dog Night, BTO, Rick Springfield, America, BS&T, and countless others.
The songs he penned have been heard from sea to shinning sea. His tribute to the Vietnam Soldier, a song he wrote called "They’re All Not On The Wall" reached out nationally and received rave reviews.
One night, while performing one of his marathon shows, his band mates said, "We need a break, we can’t do three hours straight!" Not wanting to disappoint the audience by taking one of those long breaks bands are famous for, and wanting to satisfy his fellow musicians, Cantafio added a twenty minute acoustic solo set in the middle of the show. The crowd loved it, the band got their break, and Joe Cantafio, "the soloist" was born.
As a soloist, you really get to know him. He’s a storyteller with something to say. He’s an American who loves his country and makes you feel that same pride. Joe takes rock classics like "Born To Run" and "With Or Without You" and makes them his own. On the other hand, his original music makes you feel what he felt as he wrote the song. He can make you laugh, get you up singing along or pull you in as he melts into a love song.
After the tragedy of September 11th, Cantafio wrote a three-hour solo effort and toured with the firefighters of New York’s Engine Company 55. His "Let Freedom Sing" tour went coast-to-coast receiving critical acclaim. Sometimes the show went five hours, ? without a break! Cantafio said; "During the ‘Let Freedom Sing Tour,’ I was in awe and honored to be standing with New York’s bravest, firefighters who put it on the line at a time when the world was watching and needing a real hero. The brave men of FDNY Engine Company 55 are those heroes."
In 2004 Cantafio toured Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Africa and UAE with his new band, The 101st Rock Division. A highlight of the tour was performing American "rock and roll" on the steps of Saddam Hussain’s Baghdad Palace. Joe’s solo portion of their show brought standing ovations from the troops. Cantafio said, "During our tour overseas performing for America’s finest men and women, I felt at home. Some of the greatest people I have ever met, I met on that tour."
In October of 2004, Joe Cantafio received the "2004 American Patriot Award" from the Exchange Club of Naperville, Illinois. Cantafio’s performance at the Exchange Club’s Ribfest with the New York firefighters received national attention and showed how one person can really make a difference.
A book titled "Let Freedom Sing" is currently being written and will include the last three-and-a-half years of Cantafio’s incredible odyssey. "When I sit back and think about where the past three-plus years have taken me, it feels like I am living on the History Channel, Ground Zero, New York, Washington DC, Baghdad, Iraq, Kuwait City, Africa. I have met mayors, governors, senators, congressmen, generals and the President of the United States, and then I snap out of it real quick when one of my four daughters needs me to put her wet clothes in the dryer ?" said Cantafio, a single father who raises his daughters. My daughters are my finest accomplishment.
Joe Cantafio will continue to perform as a soloist and will tour schools, colleges, conventions and perform concerts as he tells his incredible story through music we all grew up to.
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