Joe Locke (musician)

A native of Palo Alto, California, Locke grew up in Rochester, New York.[1] His father taught music.[1] When Locke was eight years old he began learning drums and piano, then started on vibraphone five years later.[1][2] After playing in rock bands, he became attracted to jazz in his teen years[3] and attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.[1]

In 1981, he moved to New York City and worked as a sideman for Kenny Barron,[2] Freddy Cole, Marvin Smith,[1] and Eddie Henderson.[3] For influences, he has cited Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson.[1][2][3] His first solo album, Present Tense, was released by Steeplechase in 1990.[1] He started the band Mutual Appreciation Society in 1999 with David Hazeltine, Essiet Essiet, and Billy Drummond and has recorded frequently with pianist Geoff Keezer.[1] His album Four Walls of Freedom was based on the writings of Thomas Merton.[1]

In 2016, he was inducted into the Music Hall of Fame in Rochester.[1] Joe Locke is the International Vibraphone Consultant at the Royal Academy of Music and holds the title of Hon ARAM.[4] He has won the Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year Award from the Jazz Journalists Association on six occasions.[1]