PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

PLAYING IN PEORIA

KEEPING IT SIMPLE WITH JOE GEORGE Peoria native Joe Shadid is doing what he loves: writing songs and singing them for a growing audience

BY PHIL LUCIANO PHOTOS BY MIKE BAILEY

L ike guitar strings, Joe Shadid’s musical roots stretch sturdily from his Peoria family tree. The orchestra has included a piano-tinkling grandma, a CD-playing mom, a Beatles-loving brother and countless record-spinning relatives. Also in the mix was a guitar-giving Santa Claus and a hummus-blending grandfather. ‘HE HAS A RARITY IN MUSIC: A STEADY PAYCHECK’ — New York Times Like a medley, all of those parts – even the hummus – joined to become the foundation of a career for the 35-year old musician, composer and singer. The Chicago transplant’s multiple avocations and achievements prompted no less than the New York Times to publish a short bio headlined, “He Has a Rarity in Music: A Steady Paycheck.” In large measure, the piece was a hat tip to Shadid’s versatility in a volatile industry.

“The music business is always twist ing and turning,” Shadid said. “If you’re flexible enough to go with it, some in teresting things can happen.” Those interesting things include a solid reputation for work as a touring guitarist and solo artist; two folk/ Americana albums, Beautiful Dreams and Golden Afternoon ; years of video tutorials on the popular online music gear marketplace Reverb.com; concerts across the globe, including one last month in his hometown, at the Peoria Riverfront Museum; further writeups, including articles in Guitar Player and People magazines; and an Emmy nomination for scoring a TV docuseries. BECOMING JOE GEORGE For much of that work, Shadid goes by his professional name of Joe George. The latter is not only his middle name but also the first name of two of his favor ite people: paternal grandfather George Shadid, the late Peoria County sheriff and state senator, and Georgie Shadid, his late uncle. The surname Shadid, though com mon enough to earn correct pronun

ciation in and around Peoria, often gets mangled elsewhere. Thus, the birth of Joe George. “It was just easier to pronounce,” Shadid said. His paternal grandparents provided much of his early exposure to music. During visits to their home, Grandma Lorraine often would play classical music on her piano. Meantime, just about every day, his music appreciation widened at Joe watches as grandmother Lorraine Shadid plays piano. His family helped fuel Joe Shadid’s love and career of music

82 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE