Backstage with Honky Tonk Joey

 
Honky Tonk Joey  (Filiep Ketels)

The piano man with fingers on fire!  Joey plays as if possessed, fingers gliding up and down the keys at a hissing pace.  His steady left hand vamp powers on relentlessly while the right hand fingers keep hammering down in the highest regions of the piano.
"That's how she likes it!" says Joey.  What a showman!

Joey started as a solo pianist in the early 80's and later formed the "Chevy's" band.  He is the lead singer for Joey's Boogie Band as well as the piano master for both this group and for the Smoky Midnight Gang.  Joey's swingin' groove is moulded on idols such as Amos Milburn ("Down The Road Apiece"), Willy Littlefield ("Kansas City Lovin'") and Little Johnny Jones ("Wait Baby").


"Before turning to music full time, I tried my hands at a lot of different things, from driving trucks to running a bar."

A timid, softly spoken man with gentle manners, Joey is surprisingly forceful on the piano.  He takes his career seriously and resides like the spider in the web to keep the band together, organize the gigs and sort out all unforeseen mishaps that come with the tours, from hotel bookings to replacing a missing hammer on the piano minutes before a show.  No matter how late or early in the day, Joey is the man that everybody relies on for support. He is a top mate to each of the members, always cool, calm and professional, and sympathetic.
 

"The most important thing is that the audience has a good time.  We are here to entertain and we like to see people enjoy themselves when they come to our show."

And they certainly do have a ball, boogying back to the wall... dancers of all ages flood onto the floor, gyrating like mad, women leaping up on their partners' hips. Seeing is believing, and with Honky Tonk Joey at the piano, the swing rocks your bobby socks off, Baby!

boogie on back
Joey's Boogie Band
Smoky Midnight Gang
my home is my castle

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