Joe Krown

Joe Krown is a New Orleans piano and B-3 master, known for his prowess in the funk, blues, boogie-woogie and jazz arenas, and for his work with The Joe Krown Organ Combo, for his legacy with Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and, presently, as a member of the hard-touring Kenny Wayne Shepard Band.

A native of New York, Krown began playing the piano as a child. In the 1980s he joined Chuck Berry’s band, and also backed up the Platters, Marvellettes, and the Drifters. He went out with Muddy Waters’ guitarist Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson for a couple of years, then, in 1991, got the call from Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and packed his bags for New Orleans. He toured with Gate until the bluesman’s death in 2005, including opening for Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana and recording four albums.

Krown has a robust solo career, and has played and recorded in several successful small combos with Walter “Wolfman” Washington, John Fohl, Russell Batiste, Jr., and Johnny Sansone, among others. Either alone or with a trio, he is a regular performer in clubs and at festivals in New Orleans and across the country, and has recorded some fifteen albums. He has also recorded with Bobby Charles, Kid Ramos, Amanda Shaw, Juice, and Zigaboo Modeliste of The Meters.

Krown has played with a long list of greats, including Bo Diddley, Bonnie Raitt, Aaron Neville, Raful Neal, C. J. Chenier, Art and Ivan Neville, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball, Nicholas Payton, Marva Wright, Charlie Musslewhite, the North Mississippi All-Stars, Cyril Neville, and Allen Toussaint.

In 2017 he joined the Kenny Wayne Shepard Band, which holds five Grammy nominations, three platinum records, late night TV appearances, and opening slots for the Rolling Stones, Van Halen, and others. Krown tours the world with KWS, and holds down a busy solo and small combo schedule at home when not out on the road.

Krown can also be seen and heard in the HBO series, “Treme,” the TNT series, “Memphis Beat,” and the Robert deNiro/Sylvester Stallone feature film, “Grudge Match.”

Krown has won a slew of awards and honors in the blues, funk, and jazz categories.  He is the producer of WWOZ’s annual Piano Night fundraiser.

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