As well as being one of Santa Fe, New Mexico's most beloved songwriters, JOE WEST is also a local impresario, producing theatrical events around his hometown of Santa Fe and throughout the state of New Mexico. 
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But it is his music that has found a greater audience around the globe.
 
Quirky, offbeat and melodic, his award-winning “theatrical folk music” is a singular mix of country and rock, which he has been recording and releasing on cassettes, CDs and vinyl records since the mid eighties.  He has toured extensively throughout the States and Europe, opening and sharing the stage with the likes of Peter Rowan, The Violent Femmes, Arlo and Sara Lee Guthrie, Mojo Nixon and James McMurtry. 
 
Over the last few years Joe has created a rock opera, produced music for film and television, originated a conceptual radio show, created a film festival and founded a theater company that performs his dark horror-comedies with original live music. 
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Recently, with support from a grant, Joe has been collaborating with writer Andrew Wice on a full length historical folk/rock musical based on the events surrounding Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County Wars. 
 
Joe lives on his family homestead south of Santa Fe where he spends his free hours gardening and tending to a flock of chickens.

EDUCATION:

BFA-University of South Dakota- 1986-1990
Student exchange-Guildhall School of Music and Drama
-London, England -1988
Trinity College- Dublin Ireland-1988
New School in New York City- 1990-1997

AWARDS-

Best of Santa Fe (Santa Fe Reporter)- 2010-2017

Best Album- New Mexico Music Awards-2004

Top Ten Texas CD-Austin Chronicle- 1998

Top Texas Vocalist-Austin Chronicle-1998