studied piano and organ at the University
of North Alabama. He went on to study
piano with Joseph Raieff at the Juilliard
School in New York, where he received
his Master of Music degree in piano
performance. Joel currently serves as
artist in residence at the First
Presbyterian Church of River Forest,
Illinois, but his musical training started
with Southern Baptist gospel. His career
has included theater and jazz
performance, taking him to New York
City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Joel
currently makes his living writing and
arranging music for radio and television
commercials in his own Chicago-based
production company and studio,
CATFISH. His work as a performer,
composer and producer can be heard
daily in a wide variety of commercials for
products such as McDonald's, Sears,
Kraft, United Airlines, Bank of America,
and many others. Joel and his wife,
Susie, and three boys, Charlie, Sawyer
and Jesse, reside in River Forest, Illinois.