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Jo Serrapere & John Devinewww.joserrapere.com Biography Earthwork Collective artist Jo Serrapere rock, classic and alt-country, (sarah-pear), a songwriter from , surf and swing. Jo plays both guitar and , started playing guitar at 23 drums in this project. when seeking out lessons from Delta John Devine, also a Detroit native, attended guitarist, Shari Kane. Shortly thereafter, Jo Master’s classes in classical guitar at Miami began writing her own songs while University. He went on to explore traditional completing her college studies in clinical blues styles and develop a love for the “race psychology. She now plays at music ven- records” of the 1920’s and 30’s. John per- ues throughout the US with her many proj- formed as a solo blues artist and songwriter ects as well as maintaining a successful before teaming up with Jo in 1998. He continues to explore other forms psychotherapy practice and raising her delightful daughter with music of American roots music and teach his craft. and life partner, John Devine. Jo and John often perform in their band, Jo Serrapere & the Willie Whether recreating old classic songs or performing original songs in Dunns (with David Roof and Stuart Tucker) which brings added depth and their own confessional and comic styles, Jo and John’s music stands musical styling to their original songs as well as classics from such artists original while always reflecting their love of American roots music. as Mississippi John Hurt, Bessie Smith and Tom Waits. Jo is also the Their eclectic writing and performance fuses elements of various founding member of the old-time group Uncle Earl and current member of modern and traditional , Delta and electric blues, roots the all-female country roots band, Stella!

Resume • Jo and WDs have performed twice on NPR’s live radio program, A • Jo Serrapere has performed multiple times on the Woodsongs Old-Time Radio Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. Hour in Lexington, KY. • Jo's song, "Rise Up Bones" featured on the 2018 Detroit -winning • Jo and her bands have opened for national acts such as Emmylou Harris, , "Dance With the Devil" by the Theatre Bizarre Orchestra. Ralph Stanley, , R.L. Burnside, Bill Morrissey • Jo's music video, "In and Out of Love" by Milk Products Media was featured at the and Mary Gauthier. 2017 Chicago International Film Festival. • Jo has also performed in the past with the Lil'Darlin's Vaudeville Troupe and with • In 2007 and 2009 Jo was featured on the Sirius Satellite Radio Program, Kick the a capella group, Lorelei at the 2006 Superbowl XL and the MLB 2005 & Out the Jams in NYC with , rock critic, Biographer 2006 All Star Games. and former editor of and Magazines. • MUSIC FESTIVALS • Jo and the Willie Dunns' White Room recordings were chosen to be used to promote Ann Arbor Folk Festival (Ann Arbor, MI) Twangfest (St. Louis, MO) Audio Engineering Associates (AEA) ribbon microphone line. AEA's clients include Wheatland Music Festival (Remus, MI) Winter Wheat (Grand Rapids, MI) Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Emmylou Harris, Ry Cooder, Tony Bennett, Pete Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (Walhalla) Flint Music Festival (Flint, MI) Townsend, Keb Mo and more. NotSXSW Festival (Austin, TX) Kerrville Folk Festival (Kerrville, TX) • Jo was selected as an official showcase artist at the 1998 North Bluesfest International (Windsor, ON) Ann Arbor Summer Festival (Ann Arbor, MI) American Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, TN. This conference is the Grape Jam Festival (Erie,PA) Dogwood Festival (Atlanta, GA) most prestigious folk and conference in the world. She has also show- Detroit Tastefest (Detroit, MI) S.Florida Folk Festival(Ft. Lauderdale,FL) cased at the CMJ Music Conference in NYC, the NEA Extravaganza in Nashville, the International Fest Of Arts&Ideas (NewHaven,CT) Farmfest (Johannesburg, MI) LMNOP Conference in New Orleans, the Philadelphia Music Conference and at the Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival (Trumansburg,NY) Blissfest (Cross Village, Ml) Americana Music Association Conference in Nashville. Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival (Chapel Hill,NC) Arts,Beats & Eats festival (Royal Oak, MI) • She won “Best Vocalist” in the acoustic music category at the Detroit Music Nor-East’r Festival (Mio, MI) Riverfolk Festival (Manchester, MI) Awards. Spirt of the Woods (Brethren, MI) Alpena Blues Festival (Alpena, MI) Hollerfest (Brooklyn, MI) Earthwork Harvest Gathering (Lake City MI) • Jo has represented the Folk Alliance in the Nashville Entertainment Porcupine Mts. Music Festival (Ontonogan, MI) Taste of Chicago Music Festival (Chicago, IL) Association Extravaganza at the renown Bluebird Cafe. Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage (Washington, DC) • Jo won the songwriting competition at the 1999 South Florida Folk Festival for “Best Ballad” with her song Dream, My Girl. discography • Dollar Store Nation by selection on Dave Marsh's Sirius Radio program female cast of musicians including Van Meter and Jo Serrapere & the LaFawndas (Earthwork . Laurie Lewis. Music, 2016). From classic country to swing to • Tonight at Johnny’s • My Blue Heaven by Jo Serrapere modern rock, Jo's original music sounds classic but with Speakeasy by Jo Serrapere & the (One Man Clapping Records, 1998). modern commentary on the times. This album was Willie Dunns (Detroit Radio Co., 2002). Includes Oil and Water, Current Magazine’s number nominated for 2 Detroit Music Awards. Live CD which reached #13 on the Freeform one song of 1997 in Michigan. • Sorry, Stella by Stella! (Earthwork American Roots Chart in 2003. John Conquest, • Jo appears on the 2005 self-titled recording by Music, 2012) The recent release made the . editor of Texas Magazine’s Third Coast Music and the gypsy inspired Royal Garden Trio Americana Music Association Chart, the Route 66 the Freeform American Roots Chart voted this CD #6 (Tom Bogardus, Brian Delaney, Mike Karoub) with Chart and the Freeform American Roots Chart. It has album of 2003. the Shavers and Robin standard Undecided. This been a featured selection on Dave Marsh's Sirius • She Went Upstairs by Uncle Earl particular cut was featured prominantly on many Radio program Kick out the Jams . (Detroit Radio Co., 2002). Jo released a jazz radio programs including the CBC. • Love Going South by Jo Serrapere bluegrass and old-time Appalacian CD with • Jo and WDs appear on (Hot Unsigned (Detroit Radio Co., 2009). Jo's recent release H.U.A.C. songwriter K.C. Groves under name Uncle and Unsung Americana Compilation) Volumes I and held the #1 position for two months on the Earl. Produced by Grammy Award artist II (Catamount Records, 2003 & 2004). Freeform American Roots Chart, and made its top Sally Van Meter, this recording contains an all- 10 list of 2009. It has also been a featured Reviews “I might take a train, I might take a plane, but if I have to walk, I know I’m “A spring breeze in a bleak winter of Ani DiFranco clones. More influenced by gonna see Jo Serrapere again. Like anybody else who might make you laugh the likes of Kurt Weill than by the new breed of female pop singers, Serrapere and cry in the same song, she’s too good to pass up.” can haul an old song into the 21st century and still treat it with respect. Old — Dave Marsh, Music Critic & Author song or new, she is a compelling performer whose material is smart, sharp, : The Bruce Springsteen Story, sexy, highly individual and capable of galvanizing an audience. Personally, I Former Editor of Creem and Rolling Stone Magazine think she is going to be around for a long time, and she could wind up being “Jo Serrapere is a very special artist. She moves effortlessly within musical a major player.” genres from blues and jazz to contemporary folk songs... I am confident Jo – Dave Siglin, will continue to bring new things to the larger musical community.” Owner of The Ark (retired) and Ann Arbor Folk Festival — Jim Fleming, “I stumbled on the amazing Ms. Serrapere on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Fleming and Associates, Artist Representative Companion. Her voice and songwriting cut through the crappy, tinny speaker in for Ani DiFranco, Suzy Bogguss, Kelly Joe Phelps and Jeff Daniels my truck like smooth buttercream falling through a rusty sieve, and I heard a “The lyrics and content are strong with songs that deal with human issues of young talent that did the most damnably hard thing in music: made sexy life and love... It's a pleasure to hear a woman who can sing the ‘Blues’ and sound wholesome. Quick, somebody put a big band behind this woman and sing them well.” tell them to do whatever the heck she says.” – Bonnie Austring-Winter – Berkeley Breathed, CBC Radio Screenwriter, filmmaker, and creator of Pulitzer Prize winning comic strips “Bloom County” and ”Outland” “Writes first rate blues songs... and sings with a convincing assurance and bite.” “. . . Recalls the way Jimmie Rodgers used to sing the blues... Her vocals – Dirty Linen remind me of early Emmylou.” – Bernard Canut, “Four Stars! A post-feminist speakeasy...” Radio Canut, France – Karen Koski, Detroit Metro Times "Love Going South is stunning!" – Mark Taylor, WVUD Newark, DE Contact Information Booking: Detroit Radio Co. 313.336.3343 [email protected] www.joserrapere.com; 1330 Hollywood, Dearborn, MI 48124-4042 www.thestellagirls.com or direct at 313.316.1900 www.earthworkmusic.com