A Little Bit About Joe

Joe has been entertaining audiences with an amazing repertoire of pop, jazz, and classical music for more than 30 years.

The great Mel Torme described Joe as "just super" and Errol Garner told Joe, "you and me just let them have it all."

Joe began his musical career at the ripe old age of three studying the piano, followed by instruction in the violin, trumpet and drums. Joe composed a number of arrangements for organizations and churches before the age of 18.

As a young adult, Joe studied with the renowned Elmer Steuk in Sandusky, Ohio. Stuek had studied with Lechetiskty, who taught many famous pianist, including Paderewski. Joe commuted to Sandusky every other week for a three-hour lesson. Stuek"s instruction emphasized tone - the singing tone particular to the lyrical works of Chopin, one of Joe's favorite classical composers.

After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, Joe graduated with a major in piano from The Ohio State University School of Music. While in college, Joe headed up the house band at Benny Klein's - a then famous Columbus steakhouse. Joe worked with Teddy Wilson, Jimmy McPartland, and Wild Bill Davidson to name a few.

Joe then moved to Scot's Inn and formed the Joe Dunlap Trio.

From Newspaper reviews…

The Joe Dunlap Trio was among the best in the country. No less a musical genius than Mel Torme has voiced on numerous occasions his opinion that they were, in his own words, “just super”). With Charlie Brown on drums and Dave Butler on bass, the trio offered a good deal more than superb musicianship...they had something extra...and very special indeed. they had a little thing called imagination going for them…in this instance manifesting itself in an outstanding, almost uncanny variety of musical moods folded into each new arrangement of otherwise familiar standards. Whether weaving in and out of classical phrases or blending in snatches of secondary themes at completely unexpected moments, theirs was a kind of musical montage perhaps most adequately described as variations on a them by damn near anyone. And the unique musical stamp created was, I assure you, theirs and theirs alone. It is precisely this stamp that had earned them the admirable following they enjoyed from top names in the entertainment word to plain everyday citizens like you and me.

From a review of a concert at the Memorial Theater where Joe was presented with a resolution proclaiming the of March 24-31 as Joe Dunlap Week.

"A kaleidoscope of sound created by three talented musicians pouring a steam of imaginative creations forth with a rhythmic progression set fingers drumming on the arm of seats at the Memorial Theater Sunday afternoon"….Probably the highlight of the program this year was a request portion during the second half. Joe took about seven or eight request numbers ranging from Dixie to Sting and strung them together with passages of extemporaneous modulations which included snatches of other songs . Each piece flowed into the next with a little musical humor as the audience heard song after song occur and the recur in the transitional passages.

From another concert.

The personable Joe Dunlap Trio and the orchestra played “Rapsody in Blue.” Sighs, along with goose flesh were present in the auditorium. The final number was the trio and the orchestra playing the score of “Jesus Christ Superstar”. It was spine tingling. The reaction of the people was breath taking excitement. Everyone in the audience was high on music. Following “Superstar” there was a standing ovation and the audience wouldn”t let the trio depart.

Joe also formed the Joe Dunlap Twin Pianos with Bobby Pierce.

From a review

Six nights each week, Joe Dunlap and Bobby Pierce, dressed "black tie" step onto an elevated circular stage. They sit down in front of two Steinway concert grand pianos and do what they do best - play beautiful, exciting music. Along with the combined practical experience of over 30 years, the playing reflects the intangible possessed by only a few. It is all there: imagination, variety of musical moods, new arrangements of old standard, blends of secondary themes when you least expect them and perhaps the most important of all - feeling.

Joe has served as musical director and band leader of several television shows including the daily talk show, Company, which aired on Channel 6 and Celebration, a daily live two-hour show on Warner Qube. For three years, Joe's performances at the Ohio State Fair were broadcast on Channel 10.

When Scot's Inn became the Carrousel Inn, the Joe Dunlap/Shellie Jacobs era was born. Joe and Shellie were very active performing and recording with several appearances in Atlantic City.

Then Joe performed at a number of venues around Central Ohio including a combined 17 years at the Worthington Inn.

In the following years Joe was busy recording eight CDs, writing numerous arrangements and maintaining a full teaching schedule.

Today he is busy with recording new projects, teaching piano and performing solo at the Knotty Pine in Grandview, Brookside Country Club, Von Maur at Polaris Mall, and the Worthington Inn. On occasion he is joined by several of his very talented friends.

Joe resides in Columbus with "the love of my life, Trina." They have three children, John, Brittiny and Michael.