Who is J-Bird?

Joanne's upbringing with music began as a tiny tyke who would dance to music as soon as she could hold on to the side of a crib. Growing up in a family of drummers, she was exposed to music all of her life, and even began playing drums herself at the age of seven. By the age of sixteen, Joanne was playing drums in a neighborhood band called "We Three & She", for the neighbors' private birthday parties and sweet 16's. (Apparently, there was not a single teenage boy around who could play "Wipeout", so she got the job.) Inspired by her mother to follow a musical career path, Joanne took her mother's advice and today is truly happy in her profession. "Music is like the air that I breathe. I could not exist without it" says Joanne.

Since 1993, Joanne "J-Bird" Phillips has been the bass player/manager/agent and promoter for Turnpike Joe & The Traffic Jam, New York's Premier Classic Rock/Party Band. Joanne was Music Coordinator/Promoter of Du Jour for several years, a food and music festival to benefit the Long Beach City School District's Mini Grant and HIV/AIDS Awareness Program, sponsored by chef/owner Lenny Remo, (The Kitchen Off Pine Street and TKOPS 180), Long Beach, NY. The festival featured music from rock and country to blues and jazz, offered up by some of the best of Long Island's talent. In an effort to inspire local youth, Joanne was also proud to bring in the Long Beach High School Jazz Band to perform at this community event, along with several local teenage bands, so they could get the experience of playing in an organized and professional situation. The "J-Bird" is also an occasional contributor to the e-zine The Female Musician, as well as a member/sponsor of Artists in Partnership, a cultural arts organization based out of Long Beach, NY. The name "J-Bird" is now her legal name, an honor bestowed on her several years ago by fellow professional musicians. Not only does she know all the ins and outs of music and her business, she also knows electronics, sound and equipment and was the only woman electronic technician at Harman/Kardon. "J-Bird" has endorsed Planet Sox merchandise for two years and was the Promoter/Stage Manager for the 2003 and 2004 City of Long Beach Jazz Festivals. Joanne is a member of AFM Local 802 New York, and will be producing the first album/cd for Turnpike Joe & The Traffic Jam, "Under The Covers", in 2006. Joanne J-Bird Phillips is proud to be the Owner/President of NY's Newest Semi-Pro Football Team, The Long Island Panthers. Joanne's latest project is as Executive Producer of Independent Film "Knock Knock" (Ariola Productions).