News & Reviews

  • Thursday, July 8, 2010

    • Joel Rafael will Guest DJ on The Village, Sirius Satellite Radio

    Will air Tuesday July 20, 6:00 pm ET - Rebroadcast: Saturday July 24, 12:00 am ET

    Joel Rafael joins The Village in the studio and hand selects tracks, peppered with his expert stories and good grace. Joel did this on his birthday!

  • Thursday, June 10, 2010

    • Check out Joel in the "Walking The Halls" photo gallery on Ascap.com

    Go down to the "Walking the Halls" slide show. The photo is also in the new hard copy of Playback magazine.

  • Saturday, June 5, 2010

    • On BackStage: Teri Perticone of No Lies Radio interviews Singer/Songwriter Joel Rafael

  • Wednesday, April 7, 2010

    • SINGER-SONGWRITER JOEL RAFAEL TOURS THIS MONTH WITH JIMMY LAFAVE,AND WILL PERFORM AT 2010 WOODY GUTHRIE FOLK FESTIVAL IN JULY

    Los Angeles, CA, April 7, 2010: Southern California-based singer-songwriter Joel Rafael will tour this month on a bill that also includes Texas-based musician Jimmy LaFave. The Midwest dates kick off April 20 at the Blue Dome Diner in Tulsa, OK and includes shows at Knucklehead's Saloon in Kansas City, MO (4/21); CSPS/Legion Arts in Cedar Rapids, IA (4/22); and Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL. Rafael will also perform solo in Highland Park, IL on April 25.

    Regarded as one of music's foremost interpreters of the work of American folk icon Woody Guthrie, Rafael will be a featured performer on Saturday night (July 17) at this summer's 2010 annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, Oklahoma, July 14 to 18. Rafael has appeared at the festival every year since its 1998 inception.

    Rafael has released two compilations of Guthrie's songs, Woodeye: The Songs of Woody Guthrie, Volume 1 (2003), and Woodyboye: The Songs of Woody Guthrie, Volume 2 (2005). In its review of the latter, Rolling Stone wrote, "Don't miss the moving version of Guthrie's 'Stepstone,' which finds Rafael sharing vocal duties with Jackson Browne and another Guthrie admirer by the name of Arlo."

    In 2009, independent label Inside Recordings reissued both in a special 2-CD set, THE SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE, VOL. 1 & 2. Several songs feature original music composed by Rafael for previously unpublished lyrics by Woody Guthrie, entrusted to him by Nora Guthrie (Woody's daughter and director of the Woody Guthrie Archives).

    Rafael's most recent album of original material was 2008's Thirteen Stories High. Highlights include the stirring protest song "This Is My Country," featuring background vocals by David Crosby and Graham Nash.

    Joel Rafael was the recipient of the Kerrville Folk Festival's 1995 "New Folk Emerging Songwriter Award." He is a member of the national touring cast of the celebrated Guthrie revue Ribbon Of Highway, Endless Skyway. He has performed with Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, John Lee Hooker, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Sheryl Crow and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

    April tour dates with Jimmy LaFave
    20 Blue Dome Diner, Tulsa, OK
    21 Knuckleheads Saloon, Kansas City, MO
    22 CSPS, Cedar Rapids, IA
    24 Fitzgerald's, Berwyn, IL
    25 House Concert (Joel Rafael only), Highland Park, IL

    Visit Tour section for full list of dates


  • Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

    • nyaskivor.se Reviews "The Songs of Woodie Guthrie Vol. 1 & 2"
    Songs of Woody Guthrie Vol. 1 & 2Vad har Billy Bragg, Wilco och Joel Rafael gemensamt? De har alla fått förtroendet av Nora Guthrie (Woodys dotter) att skriva musik till några av all den Woody Guthrie-lyrik som aldrig fick musik av Woody själv. Wilco och Billy Bragg gjorde det tillsammans med bravur på två skivor ("Mermaid Avenue" och "Mermaid Avenue vol.2") som släpptes 1998 och 2000. Dessa två album innehöll bara låtar som inte tidigare varit utgivna. Joel Rafael däremot har på sina två album med Woody Guthrie-tolkningar blandat gamla klassiker med mindre kända gamla låtar och helt nya tidigare outgivna låtar.
    View the Article (Nederlands)

  • Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010

    • ASCAP Presents: Quiet On The Set - At Folk Alliance 2010
    Jamaica Rafael

  • Monday, November 16, 2009

    • Woody Guthrie Par Ses Héritiers
    Woody Guthrie Par Ses Héritiers
    An article about Woody Guthrie by Jacques-Eric Legarde - XROADS Magazine
    » View the article (Français)

  • Monday, November 09, 2009

    • Keep the Light Alive - Celebrating the Music of Lowen & Navarro
    Celebrating the Music of Lowen & Navarro

    Recording artists of all stripes are banding together in support of renowned singer songwriter Eric Lowen of the duo Lowen & Navarro and organizations united in the fight against ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease). Award-winning songwriter, Eric Lowen, was diagnosed with ALS almost six years ago. Setting an example for us all, Eric has continued to work tirelessly on his music, recording, writing and until recently, even performing. Now Eric's friends and peers have united to pay tribute to Eric and others who suffer from this life taking disease. Friends who have lent their voices and respect not just of the music but also the man, are: Jackson Browne, John Ondrasik (of Five For Fighting), Keb' Mo', The Bangles, Severin Browne, Joel Rafael, Andy Chase, The Refugees, Freebo, Eddie from Ohio, Phil Parlapiano, Charlie Wadhams and Stonehoney.

    Sound bytes from the CD and online ordering are available at:
    » www.keepthelightalive.org

  • Monday, November 02, 2009

    • Poliwood

    Joel Rafael's song, "This Is My Country," will be featured in the Barry Levinson documentary film, "Poliwood". The song was performed by Graham Nash and David Crosby in Denver during the Democratic Convention last fall, and was filmed by Levinson for the movie. Crosby and Nash performed "This Is My Country" on their 2008 fall tour, and invited Rafael to perform it with them at last year's Seva Benefit at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA. They also performed the song on much of the CSN tour earlier in the summer of 2008, and at a number of Obama rallies. "Poliwood" will make its television debut on Showtime today, November 2nd, with additional airings later on. Please check your local guide for regional times.

  • Thursday, October 22, 2009

    • Joel's song "This Is My Country" will be featured in the Documentary "Poliwood" by Director Barry Levinson

    "Poliwood" is an in-depth look at the Democratic and Republican national conventions held during the 2008 U.S. Presidential election year.

  • Wednesday, September 16, 2009

    • THE SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE, VOL. 1 & 2, A NEW TWO-CD SET BUNDLING JOEL RAFAEL'S PAIR OF ACCLAIMED COMPILATIONS OF THE FOLK LEGEND'S MUSIC, JUST RELEASED BY INSIDE RECORDINGS

    Southern California-based singer-songwriter Joel Rafael is celebrated as one of music's foremost interpreters of the work of American folk icon Woody Guthrie. Rafael has previously released two acclaimed compilations of Guthrie's songs. Inside Recordings-the independent label to which Rafael his been signed since 2000-has just reissued these two collections together in a new bundled package, THE SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE, VOL. 1 & 2. The specially priced 2-disc set, released September 15, 2009, retails for $18.98.

    » Click here to view the full Press Release (PDF)
    » Click here to purchase the album

    » Inside Recordings

  • Wednesday, April 15, 2009

    • Singer/Songwriter Joel Rafael interview and performance re: Songwriting and The Legacy of Woody Guthrie at FLASHPOINT, The Academy of media Arts and Sciences, Chicago, IL.

    » Click here to watch the video.

  • Thursday, Nov 13, 2008

    • December 12, 2008 - CD Release Date for Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway,A Tribute to Woody Guthrie.
    Featuring Jimmy LaFave, Eliza Gilkyson, Joel Rafael, Slaid Cleaves, Kevin Welch and Michael Fracasso and Ray Bonneville

    Come celebrate the long awaited double CD release of this incredible show!

    Cactus Cafe Presents
    Ribbon of Highway, Endless Skyway
    TEXAS UNION BALLROOM, AUSTIN, TEXAS
    Show starts at 8pm
    Doors at 7:15pm

    Advance tickets at Texas box Office outlets: HEB's, Erwin Center Box office(no service charge at the Erwin Center box Office) (512) 477-6060 to charge or purchase online at www.texasboxoffice.com

  • Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008

    • Folk troubadour comes to Old Poway

    Singer-songwriter Joel Rafael, an acclaimed folk singer who has lived in Valley Center for 30 years, will be at Poway's Templar's Hall for a concert hosted by the San Diego Folk Heritage Foundation.

    » Read More

  • Thursday, Oct 30, 2008

    • Joel will be on Backstage: Los Angeles, L.A.'s REAL Music-Interview T.V. & Radio Show!

    See Channels and Times below:

    2008 CHATSWORTH, CHANNEL 34 - Mondays 7:30 P.M.
    Joel Rafael - Monday, November 24th (one of the few musicians entrusted to perform & record from The Woody Guthrie Trust)

    2008 WESTCHESTER - Channel 24 Fridays 8:00 PM
    Joel Rafael - Friday, Nov. 21 @ 8:00 PM (one of the few musicians entrusted to perform & record from The Woody Guthrie Trust)

    2008 MARINA DEL REY, CULVER CITY, HOLLYWOOD: Channel 24
    Joel Rafael - Friday, Nov. 14 @ 7:30 PM (one of the few musicians entrusted to perform & record from The Woody Guthrie Trust)

    For further information on Backstage: Los Angeles, please go online to:www.backstagelosangeles.net

  • Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008

    • San Diego Music Awards TV, airs this Saturday, October 25 on Channel 4 San Diego!

    The 2008 San Diego Music Awards - presented byBud Light Music, San Diego CityBeat and Viejaswere held on September 17th at Viejas Concerts in the Park. A sell out crowd enjoyed performances from As I Lay Dying, Louis XIV, Jayo Felony, Steve Poltz, Joel Rafael, Mundell Lowe, and Anya Marina.

    And now, you can catch all of the performances, the awards, the celebrities and more on the 2008 SDMA-TV Show, which airs THIS SATURDAY, October 25 on Channel 4 San Diego. The edited for television HD broadcast will air on both the Cox Cable and Time Warner cable systems (San Diego County only) for 2 hours starting at 9pm....so set your TIVO to record!

    For further information on the San Diego Music Awards, please go online to:http://www.sandiegomusicawards.com


  • Monday, Sept 29, 2008

    • Seva's 30th celebrated by lineup full of stars
    Review by Joel Selvin, SF Chronicle Senior Pop Music Critic

  • Saturday Sept 27, 2008

    Joel performs "This Is My Country" with David Crosby and Graham Nash at Seva's 30th Anniversary.

    View the photos here.

Thirteen Stories High


On Sale Now from the new Inside Recordings Store.

Thirteen Stories album cover

Joel Rafael's new album is due out on Inside Recordings on April 8, 2008 - The lead single, "This Is My Country," an instant-classic protest song, features backing vocals from David Crosby & Graham Nash.

Order Now | Download the press Release (PDF)

Download the new song:
"This Is My Country" (MP3)