Since 1983 Joe Smooth has been considered one of the top DJ's in Chicago,
a highly skilled sound engineer, and world class certified platinum producer/composer/writer/ re-mixer.
A self-taught musician from the age of 12, Joe Smooth is one of the pioneers of the style of music known today as house music. He has worked with such artists as Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, Chip E, A Guy Called Gerald, Lil Louis , Tyree Cooper, Fast Eddie,
The Art Of Noise, Sterling Void, The Pet Shop Boys, Janet Jackson, Atlantic Starr, New Order, Steve Hurley... and countless more.
At 18, he opened his first underground nightclub called east Hollywood Mannequins. At 20 he became the head DJ at the now world famous Smart Bar nightclub, his nights attracted 2,000 people and DJ’s Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy would come listen to Joe’s sets looking for music to take back and play at their clubs, Joe Smooth’s musical prowess was the one instrumental factor that shaped the atmosphere and mystique that still lives at Smart Bar going into it’s 34th year. In 1985, the Limelight looked at Joe as the number one DJ in Chicago and propositioned Joe for their Chicago nightclub as musical coordinator.
This is the year Joe Smooth also joined the DJ International Records family.
After joining the DJ International family he quickly became a central force behind almost everything written or produced from this visionary label. This included Co producing The Jack Trax EP with Chip-E, the first record to use the words House and Jack.
Many say this was the first true house record. Joe also Co-produced and mixed Frankie Knuckles first record the remake of "You Can't Hide". In 1987 along with Limelight, he also started working for the soulful Charlie club nightclub as head DJ/musical coordinator and penned one of the greatest house anthems of all time "Promised Land".
In 1988, with musical production work at a high Joe traveled abroad to put his concentration fully into his production, DJ gigs and Performing. In 1990 returning to Chicago from great success abroad, Joe saw a need for a serious underground house club in Chicago and opened the very successful Warehouse nightclub, named in tribute to the legendary Warehouse nightclub of the late seventies and early eighties.
In 1994 Joe’s sought after talent led him to Rome to partner on a label called "Active Bass Music" with famous producer Claudio Donato. Which ran until 1999. In 1999 Joe Smooth returned home to Chicago and did extensive work with Slang Music Group and Nu Soul until 2005. Joe's work at Slang and Nu Soul would include projects
featuring Whitney Houston,
Donnell Jones, Destiny’s Child and Sisqo and earn a multitude of Gold and Platinum
record awards.
From 2005 till today Joe’s “Obelisk Production Multimedia” labels has released a string of house hits and has songs signed from worldwide artist such as Faith Evans and
George Clinton.
His second label “Indie Art Music” is based around more underground and up and coming artist and is currently in negotiations for worldwide distribution through the Universal Music Group network. Joe Smooth has worked hard to stay ahead of the curve and is often sought after to consult and mentor some of the world’s greatest producers, DJ’s and labels, like Ultra, Armada and Sony.
He has a Catalog deal with Armada Music Group,
he is currently an ambassador for The School of House based out of Amsterdam, working with a multitude of platinum artist worldwide, collaborating with Global DJ powerhouses
like Benny Benassi and Alex Gaudino and working with the great charity organization LNADJSML(Last Night A DJ Saved My Life). He is also one of the original organizers of Chicago’s Largest house music events held in Millennium Park yearly “The Chicago House Music Festival” and “The House Legacy Project” attracting 50,000 plus over the Memorial Day weekend.