Joe Valles, a.k.a. “Texas
Joe,” was born February 25 (a). He was raised in the Rio Grande Valley,
graduated from Pace High School in 1983, and went on to attend Texas
Southmost College from 1983 to 1986.
In 1980, he began playing guitar and since has been associated with
the music industry in one way or another.
During the early 80’s, he began writing music and formed a band with
brothers Eloy (drums) and Noe (vocals, bass and accoustic guitar). The first gigs they had were high school
graduation parties throughout Brownsville, May of 1985.
In
1988 the brothers made a crucial decision to head out west. They relocated to Los Angeles, which at the
time, was the hot bed of rock and pop bands.
They never set roots in California, with all three brothers going back
and forth between Brownsville and Los Angeles, yet during the ten year
period, the Valles Brothers band played
rock-n-roll with intermittent gigs in L.A. until Texas Joe decided in
1998 to return, and stay, in Brownsville.
Upon
returning home, they left behind a
sense of accomplishment, having played
in such Hollywood hot spots as the Fame Café and Gazaris on Sunset Strip
where bands like Steppenwolf and The Doors had once performed. Joe had worked at the Norwalk Music Center in Downy,
California from 1992 to 1998, and a
short time was spent working at A & V Music in Huntington Beach under the
guidance of John Willard, a famous Music Gear trader from southern
California.
Once
back in Texas, the brothers worked fast and furiously in order to churn out
three CD’s in the years 1998, 1999, and 2000.
Three CD’s in three years...not bad for a bunch of kids from the Rio
Grande Valley with a modest up-bringing.
The only previous casset demo the brothers had made was in 1992, as a
three song demo at McCrumb Sound in Hacienda Heights, Ca.
Over
the years the Valles brothers have made many impressive contacts with the
record industry, however no deals have been signed to date. Ron Bienstock, attorney for the Rolling
Stones, and other famouse associates
have become acquaintances. Seymour
Stein, president of Sire Records, almost gave the Valles Brothers a records
deal, and Capital Records expressed interest.
For
a short time in the mid 90’s, the Valles Brothers band was managed by Chelsey
Milikin, former manager of Stevie Ray Vaughen, but due to Chelsey’s failing
health and ultimate passing, nothing came of the association.
There
are more details to be shared on this later.
Now,
in the year 2006, the band is hard at work on the new album entitled Landing Amongst the Giant Mushrooms, which is scheduled to be completed by
December of 2006. This double CD set
will later make a chronological time-line of the band, as time permits, with
pictures from corresponding years.
Please
check back later for additions to this biography.
See below...Joe also works
at KMBH TV 60 in Harlingen, Texas.
At Left: Texas Joe holds a guitar made for him by a
local luthier in Brownsville.
Texas Joe Valles with Video Director Ismael
at KMBH TV 60, August, 2006.
Texas Joe working at KMBH Studios, T.V. 60
Harlingen, Texas, August 2006.