In 2016, I asked Joe, “Hey, man, you up for a little acting gig?” and in his inimitable “Dazz’ way he answered, “No problem.” The deal was to do an extended “cameo” playing himself, along with his buddy Lou Marini in the last episode of an audio comedy series, Taking Care of Paul. We recorded Joe and Lou in a New York apartment for some location ambience and well, how great it is to have “Joe’s voice” on tape. The actors in the cast are Reg E. Cathey, Steve Mellor, & Stephen deRosa. Oh, and we also grabbed James Taylor, Paul Shaffer, Linda Carter, & Catherine Russell to join the episode and . . .

Here’s the scene: the series is all about a legendary music teacher in New York who everyone hates, including most of his students, famous and not famous. After a heart attack, the teacher (“Paul”) is given only a few months to live, and so there’s a funeral being planned. Marini, playing himself, is tasked with getting some musicians to play at the guy’s send off, but he’s not having much luck - so he calls on his pal “Dazz” - and well - listen for yourself . . .

Arthur Yorinks