Joseph Arthur
Real World Records

"Growing up in the '70s and '80s in Akron, Ohio, Joseph Arthur's musical life started off like many others, with mandatory piano lessons. But once he realized he could use the piano to conjure up his own musical worlds, he took to the instrument and began writing songs, eventually playing in bands while in high school. Days after graduation, he moved to Atlanta with a band, playing bass and supporting himself with day jobs at a music store and tattoo shop.

At the time, Arthur aspired to be a world-class jazz or fusion bass player in the vein of the late Jaco Pastorius. But when a demo tape of Arthur's songs made its way to Peter Gabriel, it was the lyrics that attracted Peter, as he realized the talented songwriter was a great fit for his label Real World Records.

Within a few months Arthur was signed and Big City Secrets was recorded at Real World Studios with Marcus Dravs (Bjork, Colplay, Mumford and Songs) producing the album, released in 1997. Two years later, he recorded an EP called Vacancy, followed in 2000 by Come To Where I'm From, which features his signature song, 'In the Sun'. That track was covered by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and Coldplay's Chris Martin in 2006 on a charity single to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina, having previously been recorded a decade earlier by Gabriel for a Princess Diana tribute album.

After releasing 4 EPs called Junkyard Hearts, his third album, called Redemption's Son, came out in May 2002.

Big City Secrets, Come To Where I'm From and Junkyard Hearts have been released as part of the Real World Gold series of repackaged reissues.

Previously nominated for a best recording package Grammy for his 1999 EP Vacancy, Arthur is an accomplished painter, having displayed his works in galleries around the world. His online-only Museum of Modern Arthur www.museumofmodernarthur.com serves as a repository for his creations".

Listen and watch videos of Joseph's music:

In the sun, Cherries in the snow, Call, Honey and the moon, This is still my world and Top tracks (100 videos)