PERFORMER – EDUCATOR

COMPOSER – ARRANGER

CHOREOGRAPHER – CLINICIAN

PERCUSSIONIST – PICCOLO BASSIST

PIANIST: CLASSICAL AND JAZZ

 

 MUSIC LEADS THE WAY

Music can and does make a difference!  Jo Sallins began playing drums in grade school at the age of 9.  Jo credits his first drumming instructor and mentor with the positive direction his life has taken.  Drumming focused Jo and gave him purpose, commitment and dedication and developed the skills necessary to succeed in all his endeavors. These skills are not unique to the study of music, but rather to your success in every area of life.

  • PATIENCE (Find your talent. Everyone is an artist and everyone has talent.)
  • PRACTICE (Perfect your talent.)
  • DEDICATION or COMMITMENT

Jo’s philosophy – Give away your talent.  Share your joy and talent.  Encourage and support others to find their talent, whatever that may be.  Jo named one of his first CD’s “Ripple Effect, providing a visual image of how music has affected his life.   Jo’s initial mentor and teacher was the drop of water that changed the surface and created rings moving outward connecting Jo to new musicians and people and positive experiences.

“The good things in my life have come as a result of following my dreams as a musician!  Thank you for allowing me to perform for and with you.” – Jo Sallins

JO SALLINS EXPERIENCE 

  • 37 years of musical performing experience with a variety of musicians.
  • Toured internationally in Asia, Singapore, and Canada.
  • Toured the US.
  •  Last 10 years Joe has been performing arts in education programs with Tony Vacca, “World Rhythms.”
  • 6 years ago Jo formed trio for Performing Arts in education programming.
  • Programs offered are concert assemblies, student and faculty workshops and professional development.
  • Massachusetts Cultural Council Events & Residency Roster teaching member.
  • New England Foundation for the Arts Touring Roster teaching member.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  • 17 years private orchestral drumming studies with Jim Calapaletis.
  • 10 years private studies with Billy Arnold on jazz & funk drumming.
  • 9 years private studies of Latin and African Drumming with Alvin Carter & Marshall Small.
  • Bass–self taught.
  • Piano–self taught.
  • Jo studied dance and tama drumming in Senegal, West Africa, in December of 1998 with Massamba Diop.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Jo met Chick Corea, the major influence on his performing style as a keyboard player. Jo had the opportunity to give Chick Corea a song that he had composed for him, “Epic Mind” from Jo’s CD “Ripple Effect.”

OUTSIDE SCHOOLS AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES

  • Eileen Kirk & Dee Ward — Elms College Step Forward, Step Ahead and Quest Program Coordinators, Chicopee, MA 413-594-2761 x315
  • Performed with: Tony Vacca’s World Rhythms™, Matt “Guitar” Murphy of the Blue Brothers (1 year), Dan Akroyd (1 show), Marvin “Smitty” Smith – Drummer for “The Tonight Show” band, Stanley Clarke – Bassist from Chick Corea’s RTF Ensemble
  • Opened for Mongo Santamaria, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells with Ed Vadas and the Fabulous Heavyweights,  Al B. Sure, Chaka Khan, Kool and the Gang, Baba Maal, Najee, Gerald Albright, Stanley Clarke and Stanley Jordan.

Recording credits as Executive Producer, Writer, Arranger, and Performer with:

Gear Up Rappers

Gokh-Bi Systems

Guy-Michael Grande

Heshima Moja

Jo Sallins (Solo)

Jo Sallins Band

Jo Sallins & Friends

Mr. “Papa ” C

New Star Band

Sallins/Marshall Project

Steven Santoro

Tony Vacca