Playing music has been my life. I love sharing music…as well as my talent. It’s giving to others, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

I’m a full-time, professional entertainer. My job gives me the flexibility to spend time with my son while other Dads are working. But the downside is that I don’t get paid when I don’t work.

I credit the Boy Scouts with my start in the business. Troop yells and cheers. Fellowship and song.  You could say, however, that I went from smoky campfires to smoky bars.

School band was another big start. And dance class. A broken leg ended my dance career; however, at that moment my music career was born.  I began to perform in a church folk group.

Then my music career got a jump start when I was hired as the first Cruise Director on the first Spirit of Norfolk. I booked bands as well as produced my own show. I opened many acts – Steve Goodman, the Night Hawks, Faith Hill – and others. I also worked with radio and TV stations.

Along the way, I had the opportunity to travel to Trinidad. I’d been intrigued by the Steel Plan sounds in my travels. I met Mike Goodwin who had plans for the youth in Portsmouth. His vision – off the streets and on to music – gave me a chance to help.  I returned to Trinidad to find players and arrange Visas and Passports. The goal: bring a 16 piece steel pan band to Hampton Roads.  The result: gangs who were killing each other in April we performing music together in September. Beautiful.

After three years, my career took a different turn. I organized and performed in several popular bands. Some gigs were notable such as Lake Wright and another in Snowshoe, West Virginia.

With award-winning performer/singer/songwriter Kevin MaC. Photo taken at Saddle Ridge.

We moved on to a prestigious house gig at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fl. Then to Key West and Athens, GA. Athens loved us. Our friends were fellow entertainers in the area’s popular bands – bands such as R.E.M. and the B52s. We were also featured in a Special Christmas TV Show that was aired worldwide through the Armed Forces network. Yes, we were living the rock-star, devil may care lifestyle.

Then one day I noticed something happening to my voice. I was working two or three gigs a day so I thought that was it. I had everything checked. Nothing.

But I continued to get sick, often with flu-like symptoms. I had bouts of bronchitis and pneumonia. Each time I got sick, it took longer to recover than the time before.

I really began to worry about my situation when a doctor asked if I smoked 2-3 packs a day. I had never smoked a day in my life.

I came to understand that my lungs had been compromised by years of breathing second-hand smoke. The conditions in which I worked eventually led to scar tissue and irreversible damage to the lower half of my left lung. In October 2009 I spent a week in ICU with pneumonia followed by a retina torn in four places in November and December. That really got my attention.

With Joe's Trop Rock-ers, MargaritaBill and Sherri Linn.

Luckily for me the smoking law changed. Told to avoid smoke – no exception — I now have a workplace to go back to. I’m on the mend, getting stronger everyday.  Now I have a better understanding of what I have to do, which is to get plenty of rest, exercise and eat well. I was also advised to stop hugging and kissing everyone. That’s my signature – that’s hard!

In 2008, I began to rethink my goals. Kevin MaC, winner of the Hampton Roads Colgate Country Showdown, joined me for about a year while finishing a degree at ODU. Today, I sometimes perform with Kevin locally.

My new band — Joe’s Trop Rock-ers with Bill Kendra (MargaritaBill) and Sherri Linn Holland – was formed in 2009. My team has waited for me while I recover. I’m pleased about that. I’m itching to get on stage again. And I’m happy — for myself and others — that we can breathe freer now!

Today, I’m excited about the benefit planned for me to help with my mounting medical bills. I’m humble by people’s kindness. I’m overwhelmed by the support we’ve received. I am blessed.

Let’s Keep the Music Playing / Benefit for Joe Maniscalco takes place this Sunday, February 21 @ Knuckleheads Roadhouse, Witchduck Road, VB. Here is the line-up:

1:00 – 1:15 Tammy Gardner w Charlie Austin
1:20 – 1:50 One Hit Wonders
1:55 – 2:10 Eddie Sal
2:15 – 2:35 New Direction
2:40 – 2:55 Acoustaholics
3:00 – 3:30 Suzy–Ray-Vaughn
3:35 – 3:50 Don and Anne Butcher
3:55 – 4:25 Baddadz
4:30 – 5:00 Mike Aiken Band
5:10 – 5:40 Lewis McGehee and Karl Werne
5:45 – 6:15 Carbon Jam
6:20 – 6:35 Doug Dunn
6:40 – 7:10 Broke By Sunday
7:15 – 7:30 Don Gill Richard Spano
7:35 – 8:05 Stingrays
8:10 – 8:25 Kevin Mac
8:30 – 9:00 Joe and Friends (including Sherri Holland, margaritaBill, Bruce Todd and others)