Joe Levalley
LISTEN TO JOE'S ORIGINAL MUSIC BELOW
Scroll down to listen to several of Joe's original songs, including rock, country, and ballads.
more about joe's background...
Joe LeValley grew up in Dayton, Iowa, about an hour northwest of Des Moines. He used proceeds from a paper route to buy his first set of drums while in the 8th Grade, and has been playing in rock bands almost continuously ever since. He wrote his first song at age 14 and bought his first guitar - an Epiphone acoustic which he still cherishes - while in college at Drake University.
Bands in which Joe was a part included: The Collector's Item, Free-On 12, Mourning Glory Rock Band, Armageddon, Posse, Dr. Bop and the Med-Funk Showstoppers, and monkeywrench. Currently he performs with a band called Cloud Ten, based in Des Moines. Along the way, Joe has had the opportunity to open for national acts such as Dobie Gray and Kenny Rogers, and to drum on numerous recordings, one of which received some air play (a song written by T.C. Dakin of Posse).
Joe was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in September 2016 as a member of the Mourning Glory Rock Band. Induction weekend at the Iowa Great Lakes was one of the most enjoyable and memorable of his life. Surrounded by family and friends, it was a weekend of music, laughter and love. It also was a reminder of how important the Hall of Fame and the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association (IRRMA) are to Iowa's many musicians and fans of music.
He encourages all of his musician friends to become members and support IRRMA with donations. The web site is www.iowarocknroll.com.
One interesting aspect of Joe's musical life is the opportunity to meet famous musicians. In 1975, Joe met all four original members of The Who. He has a T-shirt they signed for him framed and hanging above his piano at home. He also had the opportunity to take Tom Jones to dinner. While in a private dining room with just Tom, his manager and Joe, the famous singer told fascinating stories of his travels all over the world. Others Joe has met include the Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, the Temptations, Count Basie, Ed Shaunessy (Tonight Show drummer), Woody Herman and, of course, Kenny Rogers and Dobie Gray.
Joe has written dozens of songs, including rock and country songs for live performance, ballads and novelty songs for use at special events at Mercy Medical Centers where he has worked, and tributes to his children, written as gifts for each when graduating from high school. A few of the songs have been recorded in professional studios and several others have been recorded at home. Some of them are posted below.
Please NOTE: All songs posted here are copyrighted by, and the sole property of, the songwriter. Visitors to this site are welcome to download the songs for their personal use. All other uses are prohibited without the written consent of the songwriter. In either case, we would appreciate knowing if you download the music. Please go to the Home Page of this web site and send us a note to let us know you're using it, and to let us know what you think. Thanks!
Lastly, Joe loves to write. He always has. After retiring from his full-time career in 2018, he published his first novel, Burying the Lede. He has since published four more and has a sixth scheduled for release this fall. Learn more at his website: www.josephlevalley.com (Click on the link above.)
Bands in which Joe was a part included: The Collector's Item, Free-On 12, Mourning Glory Rock Band, Armageddon, Posse, Dr. Bop and the Med-Funk Showstoppers, and monkeywrench. Currently he performs with a band called Cloud Ten, based in Des Moines. Along the way, Joe has had the opportunity to open for national acts such as Dobie Gray and Kenny Rogers, and to drum on numerous recordings, one of which received some air play (a song written by T.C. Dakin of Posse).
Joe was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in September 2016 as a member of the Mourning Glory Rock Band. Induction weekend at the Iowa Great Lakes was one of the most enjoyable and memorable of his life. Surrounded by family and friends, it was a weekend of music, laughter and love. It also was a reminder of how important the Hall of Fame and the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association (IRRMA) are to Iowa's many musicians and fans of music.
He encourages all of his musician friends to become members and support IRRMA with donations. The web site is www.iowarocknroll.com.
One interesting aspect of Joe's musical life is the opportunity to meet famous musicians. In 1975, Joe met all four original members of The Who. He has a T-shirt they signed for him framed and hanging above his piano at home. He also had the opportunity to take Tom Jones to dinner. While in a private dining room with just Tom, his manager and Joe, the famous singer told fascinating stories of his travels all over the world. Others Joe has met include the Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, the Temptations, Count Basie, Ed Shaunessy (Tonight Show drummer), Woody Herman and, of course, Kenny Rogers and Dobie Gray.
Joe has written dozens of songs, including rock and country songs for live performance, ballads and novelty songs for use at special events at Mercy Medical Centers where he has worked, and tributes to his children, written as gifts for each when graduating from high school. A few of the songs have been recorded in professional studios and several others have been recorded at home. Some of them are posted below.
Please NOTE: All songs posted here are copyrighted by, and the sole property of, the songwriter. Visitors to this site are welcome to download the songs for their personal use. All other uses are prohibited without the written consent of the songwriter. In either case, we would appreciate knowing if you download the music. Please go to the Home Page of this web site and send us a note to let us know you're using it, and to let us know what you think. Thanks!
Lastly, Joe loves to write. He always has. After retiring from his full-time career in 2018, he published his first novel, Burying the Lede. He has since published four more and has a sixth scheduled for release this fall. Learn more at his website: www.josephlevalley.com (Click on the link above.)
Highway Sign - Joe LeValley
Performed by the group Posse in about 1980, "Highway Sign" was Joe LeValley's first attempt at a more up-tempo rock tune. He got the inspiration for it from a friend in the Mason City Community Theater. She said when she took a trip to Des Moines one weekend, she decided to "...hang all my guilt right out there on that highway sign, so I could have a good time and not worry what my husband thought." Performers on the original recording were Joe LeValley, drums and vocals, Tom Dakin, bass and backup vocals, and Greg Nicoll, guitar and backup vocals.
Special thanks to Don Myers who added a second guitar track to the original recording and to Carey Crowson, who added piano. Don and Carey also added backup vocals. The original recording was done at West Minist'r in Otho, Iowa, now called Junior's Motel. The additional recording and remix were done at Crystal Sound in Urbandale, Iowa, and were produced by Keith Brown.
Special thanks to Don Myers who added a second guitar track to the original recording and to Carey Crowson, who added piano. Don and Carey also added backup vocals. The original recording was done at West Minist'r in Otho, Iowa, now called Junior's Motel. The additional recording and remix were done at Crystal Sound in Urbandale, Iowa, and were produced by Keith Brown.
all the world's from dayton tonight
A new version, remixed and enhanced at Crystal Sound in Urbandale in October 2015, has been added and the the lyrics are posted below. Joe performs this annually at the Dayton High School Alumni Banquet. People attending the banquet have been kind enough to feign interest in the song and request the lyrics. Thanks to Keith Brown, Carey Crowson and Rich Casciato for their excellent musicianship. Thanks to Keith for his engineering. And thanks to daughters Beth and Emma for their background vocals. Working with everyone in the studio was a blast!
we are his song
Joe was fortunate to have worked for Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines and Mercy Health Network in Iowa, now MercyOne. Both are affiliated with CommonSpirit Health, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health care systems. A few years ago, Joe was asked to provide the opening reflection at a system meeting in Denver. The committee chair knew of Joe's musical background and asked him to do something with music.
Joe agreed and the result was this original song about God's presence in health care and honoring the health care workers who practice His healing ministry.
The song was recorded at Crystal Sound in Urbandale with engineering and creative assistance from Keith Brown. Joe was joined by Mercy nurse executive Kathy Goetz in singing lead. Carey Crowson played keyboards and Rich Casciato played guitar. Keith and Joe did acoustic guitars and electronic drums. The song now can be seen as a music video on YouTube. If you'd like to see it, type into the YouTube search function: Mercy We Are His Song.
Joe agreed and the result was this original song about God's presence in health care and honoring the health care workers who practice His healing ministry.
The song was recorded at Crystal Sound in Urbandale with engineering and creative assistance from Keith Brown. Joe was joined by Mercy nurse executive Kathy Goetz in singing lead. Carey Crowson played keyboards and Rich Casciato played guitar. Keith and Joe did acoustic guitars and electronic drums. The song now can be seen as a music video on YouTube. If you'd like to see it, type into the YouTube search function: Mercy We Are His Song.
________________________________________________________________
All american girl - Joe levalley
A tribute to the LeValleys' oldest daughter Rachel, this song was written by Joe as a gift for her graduation from high school. On the recording, Joe is singing and playing guitar, keyboards and drums. His close friend, Don Myers, added the electric guitar, bass and another keyboard track.
Joe will tell you Rachel is a very special person and writing a song for her seemed a good idea at the time. Of course as soon as the gift was given, people started saying, "Now you'll have to do the same for ALL your kids." Joe hadn't considered this. He and Jane have six!
Joe will tell you Rachel is a very special person and writing a song for her seemed a good idea at the time. Of course as soon as the gift was given, people started saying, "Now you'll have to do the same for ALL your kids." Joe hadn't considered this. He and Jane have six!
_________________________________________________________________
A Parent's dream - Joe levalley
Chris LeValley is Joe and Jane's second child. With his graduation came Joe's second tribute song and graduation gift. A ballad didn't seem to fit Chris' style, so Joe took another attempt at creating a rock tune. Once again, Joe recorded the basics - guitar, drums and vocals,and Don Myers added the electric guitar and bass. Don's musicianship makes it possible for Joe to indulge in these efforts.
________________________________________________________________
the kid is the best - joe Levalley
This song is Joe's tribute to child number three - Alex. While Joe was sure it would be impossible to do a third original song, he found it surprisingly easy. Don Myers contributed a lot to this particular song, as it features a lot of electric guitar and a key change.
________________________________________________________________
Sing - joe levalley
"Sing" is the song Joe wrote about his daughter, Emma. As you might guess, Emma is musically talented herself. She recently graduated from the Opera Program at Simpson College. This recording is unique from the standpoint that four of Emma's friends provided the background vocals. Special thanks to Mackie Saylor, a graduate in musical theater from Webster College in Missouri, for her help in arranging the vocals. The vocalists were Mackie, Courtney Nevenhoven, Zoey Miller, and Emma's sister, Beth LeValley.
look who's cookin' now - joe levalley
"Look Who's Cookin' Now" is Joe's tribute to daughter Beth, another talented daughter. The song begins with a "schmaltzy" reference to some early health problems, but quickly becomes more upbeat and fun as it notes Beth's various passions, such as cooking and baking, and music, and relates different humorous and fun incidents involving her over the years. Beth's sister Emma provided the backup vocals, with a former boyfriend providing some percussion and one line of vocals.
________________________________________________
"heart full of love" - a tribute to luke LeValley
The original song "Heart Full of Love" was written by Joe as a tribute to his son Luke, on the occasion of Luke's graduation from high school. While the lyrics are filled with inside jokes and references that will be meaningless to those who don't know Luke, the recording provides an opportunity to hear some outstanding musicians including Heath Alan on saxophone, Carey Crowson on piano, and Keith Brown on guitar and bass. Vocalists include Joe, Carey and Joe's daughter Emma LeValley.
_________________________________________________
rebecca - joe levalley
This was Joe's first attempt at a "hard-core" country song. In traditional two-beat, it tells the story of a girl a desirable in every way, except her lack of interest in return. Of course it is pure fiction... as far as Joe ever has admitted. This song was recorded by Posse at Westminst'r Sound in Otho, Iowa (now Junior's Motel). Kirk Kaufmann, a longtime friend and a fine musician, was the engineer for all Posse recordings. Piano, mandolin and guitar tracks were added in February 2015 by Carey Crowson and Don Myers. They also added some harmonies to the original three-part recorded by Posse.
________________________________________________________________
a dollar a dance - by t.c. dakin
sung by joe levalley & emma Levalley
"A Dollar a Dance" is a three-quarter time country ballad written by T.C. Dakin and originally recorded by Posse in the 1980s. The vocals were re-recorded by Joe LeValley and his daughter Emma in February 2015. Adding tracks to the tune were Don Myers on guitar and mandolin, and Carey Crowson on keyboards. Pay close attention to the lyrics, as this is one of Dakin's best musical stories.
________________________________________________________________
the girl i'll never know - joe levalley
"They" tell a story about a cello composer in Europe many years ago who passed a beautiful servant girl in the street. He was completely smitten, and later found himself deeply saddened, knowing he would never see her again or ever have the opportunity to know who she was. He therefore sat down and poured his heart into a cello composition dedicated to the girl he would never know. Well, Joe doesn't know which end of a cello is up, but he took a stab at a simple ballad with the same thought in mind. The first verse and the refrain of "The Girl I'll Never Know" were written while jogging (yes, Joe used to jog) in Mason City in 1995. The song was recorded several years later, on digital equipment in a home studio.