INTERVIEW
VIEW OF THE DAY: JOEL KEY Dave Cleveland
Greetings and welcome once again from View
Of The Day! I’m so excited to introduce to
you one of Nashville’s premier guitarist, Joel
Key. Joel and I sat down at one of his favorite
restaurants, Wild Wasabi, and discussed his
Philosophy of Guitar.
COLLECTIBLE GUITAR: Joel, thanks for
taking time to sit down with me today and
talk a little guitar. You know I’m a huge fan of
your playing. But I’m equally a fan of you as
a person. Your playing, personality, and heart
always make such a tremendous difference on
any session. Let’s dive right in! Why did you
choose the guitar?
JOEL KEY: I grew up in a home where there
were always weekend music gatherings.
The acoustic guitar was always the primary
instrument. I was drawn to it. I observed so
intently, I knew how to make chords before I
ever held a guitar. As I got older I viewed playing
as being cool, and I wanted to be cool.
CG: “Cool” is always good as a kid! What about
the people who influenced you; can you give
me some examples?
Another great one! How did you take your
bit of road work before settling into the studio
playing up to the next level?
scene. Tell me about that.
love telecaster playing). I began noticing guys
JOEL: Once I began studying studio players,
JOEL: I was on the road literally 12 hours after
who played on Nashville recordings and quickly
Nashville became my dream. Mostly because
graduating high school. I did some dates with
became a fan of Brent Mason and Kelly Back,
I wanted to meet my heroes and be like them-
country artist Rodney Atkins in the early stage
as well as acoustic player Bobby All - he was
and hopefully work alongside them. That dream
of his career. I also worked with the Christian
very influential. Later on I discovered Joe Pass.
came true! I have always regarded the Nashville
vocal group Karen Peck and New River. I
Studying guys like James Taylor and Tony Rice
studio elite as the premier sharpshooters on the
played on the road for 5 years and then made
really helped shape my approach to acoustic
planet, and that has been the measuring stick
the move to full time recording. I have recorded
guitar.
for who I want to be as a player. I’m always in
with artists like Colin Raye, Alabama, Thomas
pursuit of my next level!
Rhett, and Toby Keith.
JOEL: As a teen I was into electric guitar.
Vince Gill made quite an impression on me. (I
CG: I’m glad you mentioned Bobby. He was
CG: What years? And how did you transition to
a major contributor to the Nashville recording