William Joseph 'Beyond' album

Josh Groban, Michael Bublé and William Joseph have many things in common—they are young, they are not your typical music artists, and they are shepherded in their careers by illustrious producer David Foster. Groban and Bublé have become major stars; Joseph is on his way. With his second major-label album, Beyond, the inventive, impassioned pianist and songwriter reaches beyond the boundaries of the contemporary instrumental genre to touch a new generation.

biography
The greatest music comes from within.

In the case of the extraordinary young piano virtuoso William Joseph, that statement applies both literally and figuratively.

This twenty-five year old Phoenix, Arizona native has displayed an innate affinity and enduring love for his instrument virtually from the cradle. Matched with a dedication and discipline that has given polish and precision to his passion, William Joseph has indeed reached deep within to discover and nurture his spectacular gift.

It’s a gift gloriously displayed on Within, William Joseph’s dazzling debut album on 143/Reprise Records. Highlighting eleven tracks that deftly demonstrate his exceptional range and versatility, Within was produced by the legendary artist, songwriter, producer and talent scout David Foster.

And, if Foster’s track record with the likes of Josh Groban, Michel Bublé and Renee Olstead are any indication, William Joseph is indeed poised for worldwide acclaim with the release of Within. Foster’s unerring instinct for deeply felt and consummately crafted music is, in short, about to launch another young artist on a promising musical career, and it was the producer himself who aptly summed up the appeal of this brilliant newcomer, stating simply, “I love his musicality, his writing and the magic he weaves on the piano. He has a unique gift the whole world should hear.”

It’s a sentiment that is quickly becoming a reality, as William Joseph has brought his extraordinary virtuosity to an ever wider and more appreciative audience. Since completing work on Within, Joseph has been much in-demand for a number of high profile musical events, most notably an opening slot on the recent summer tour of baritone sensation and 143 Records’ label mate, Josh Groban. A series of sold out dates were spotlighted with an acclaimed two-night stand at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles along with appearances throughout the U.S. and Canada.

On a more intimate note, Joseph has recently been center stage for a string of prestigious celebrity events, including benefits for both the Malibu Boys & Girls Club and the Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club hosted by, respectively, Mel Gibson and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; charity performances for both Carousel of Hope and City of Hearts, during which he shared the stage with, among others, Beyoncé, Faith Hill and Josh Groban; a special evening honoring sports greats Andre Agassi, Tiger Woods and Oscar De La Hoya with all-star line-ups spotlighting India.Arie, Josh Groban, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Mario Lopez, Michael Bublé and others as well as special celebrations for California first lady Maria Shriver and Warner Bros. Records Chairman Tom Whalley.

It’s a promising launch for an artist who, at age eight, had already garnered a full ride music scholarship that would allow him to study classical piano with the likes of the acclaimed Russian instructor Stella Saperstein.

Yet even while immersed in such rarified realms, Joseph’s eclectic musical tastes prompted him to sample a wide array of styles and sensibilities. A natural born performer, he had songwriting ambitions and a love for cinematic scoring that could give full range to his richly textured and subtly nuanced skills. At sixteen, he penned the theme song for the hometown hockey team, The Phoenix Coyotes, and subsequently the moving anthem “Seeds Of Hope,” which helped to draw international attention to the Kosovo refugee crisis.

After taking a break from music in his late teens, Joseph returned to active performing, and within a few years had garnered a loyal local following thanks to the release of two independent albums and an extensive concert itinerary.

It was in 2003 that the young artist’s unique musical ability came to the attention of David Foster, in Phoenix for a charity event honoring Muhammad Ali. “I knew where he was going to be,” recounts Joseph, “so I just showed up and introduced myself. It was in the middle of a rehearsal, with all the musicians on stage and something promoted me to ask him if I could sit down at his piano and play a song.”

The original composition, which would later appear as the title track to his major label debut, stopped Foster in his tracks. “He sat down and played this beautiful piece magnificently and to perfection,” he remembers. “I was so impressed I asked him if he would perform that evening. A standing ovation later and I knew I had to work with him.”

That work got underway almost immediately with Foster and Joseph working closely together to select a repertoire that would truly represent the range and dynamism of the young pianist.

“Some of the material, like ‘Ave Maria” I’d been playing since I was a kid,” Joseph explains. “Others, like ‘Stella’s Theme’ and ‘Grace’ I co-wrote with David. It was a great honor for me, having grown up loving his music, but what I appreciated most was his willingness to try new things.”

Included in that later category are distinctive renditions of Paul Simon’s “Homeward Bound” and the total reinvention of such varied material as Kansas’ “Dust In The Wind,” Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir,” and “Butterflies And Hurricanes” by UK rock innovators Muse.

“I had huge expectations going into the studio with David,” enthuses Joseph, “and they were hugely exceeded. I really feel as if we got to the heart of my music; how different styles can be brought together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.”

All of which goes to prove that what’s within a true artist will always find a way to express itself, literally and figuratively.

“I love William’s musicality, his writing and the magic he weaves on the piano. He has a unique gift the whole world should hear.” —David Foster

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William Joseph - Beyond