Joe Becker (musician)

Joseph Christopher Becker Jr. (born June 23, 1976, Chicago, Illinois) is an American guitarist, composer and multi-instrumentalist.

Early life

Becker started playing guitar at the age of four and was dubbed a child prodigy after appearing on Jonathan Brandmeier's radio show at ages 7, 8 and 9.

Worked with

Becker has recorded with guitarists Jason Becker, Todd Duane and Joe Kelley and on releases by Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, Richie Sambora, Jeff Healey, Chris Poland, Bruce Kulick, Michael Angelo Batio, Steve Morse, Buckethead, Alex Skolnick, Bumblefoot, Blues Saraceno, Lars Eric Mattsson, Jeff Pilson, Mark Wood, Ron Keel, Randy Coven, Enuff Z'nuff and Trixter.

Musical style

Mike Varney, writing in Guitar Player magazine in 2005, said that "Becker is a very versatile and lyrical player who runs the gauntlet from shred to ear-catching, melodic instrumentals, at times bringing to mind players such as Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson"

Becker's guitar playing introduces techniques characteristically more than the styles in which he writes, such as tapping and sweep-picking. In addition to writing and recording all the music on his records, he also played all the instruments (guitar, bass, piano, strings) except drums.

Becker stopped writing, playing and recording music in 2009 for personal reasons.

Movies and soundtracks

Becker performed on the soundtrack of the short horror film The Passage, released by Nightmare Film Crew.

Becker performed on the soundtrack of the horror film Memento Mortis, released by Adam Chandonnet.

Becker performed on the soundtrack of the horror film Rise of The Scarecrows, released by Cinema Epoch.

Becker performed on the soundtrack of the horror film Evil Awakening, released by Tempe Video.

Becker's tracks "Hot As Love" and "Hard Times" were featured in the 2011 film The Fixer, from RavensFilm Productions.

Discography

• Warped Sense 2, Spinning Records/Joe Becker Music, 2016
• Guitar Wizards Volumes 3 & 4, Versailles Records, 2014, 2015
• Hot As Love, Joe Becker Music, 2009
• A Night at the White Room, Joe Becker and Joe Kelley, Joe Becker Music, 2008
• Guitar World magazine, March 2007, CD-ROM, Future Publishing, 2007
• Short Stories: Chops from Hell, 2006
• Labour of Love, 34 West Records, 2006
• Morley Sampler CD Vol. 4, Morley Pedals, 2005
• Warped Sense, Spinning Records/Joe Becker Music, 2004
• Shred 101: Chops From Hell, 2003
• Warmth in the Wilderness Volume 2, Avalon/Marquee, 2002
• Warmth in the Wilderness Volume 2, Lion Music, 2002
• Warmth in the Wilderness Volume 2, Hellion Records, 2002
• Warmth in the Wilderness Volume 2, Limpid Eye Records, 2003

• "Warmth in the Wilderness, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Jason Becker, various artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2002-12-31. Retrieved 2014-06-14. 
• "Warmth in the Wilderness, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Jason Becker, various artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2002-12-31. Retrieved 2014-06-14. 
• "Warmth in the Wilderness, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Jason Becker, various artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2002-12-31. Retrieved 2014-06-14. 
• "Warmth in the Wilderness, Vol. 2: A Tribute to Jason Becker, various artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2002-12-31. Retrieved 2014-06-14.