Joe Nero arrived in NYC via Philadelphia to attend the Manhattan School of Music in 2002 and since then has worked as a freelance drummer/percussionist and teacher in the New York area. He performed with Quincy Jones, Christian McBride, Bobby McFerrin, Patti Austin, Dave Koz, Maria Schneider, Dave Grusin, Doc Severinson, Michael Giacchino, Ray Baretto, and Patricks Williams. He also attended the prestigious Henry Mancini Institute in 2005.
Joe is a member of Peter Cincotti's touring band and “Bryan and the Aardvarks,” jazz band. He often plays high-energy soul with "Amy Lynn and The Honey Men," and Louis Armstrong jazz with "Grandpa Musselman and the Syncopators." He played with Billy Porter and was on the "Broadway and Soul" Live American Songbook Concert on PBS. He has performed with the "Broadway Dolls," "Broadway Boys," "Midtown Men," Eden Espinosa, Patina Miller, Rob McClure, Telly Leung, and Nikki Renee Daniels. He is a staple at Feinstein's 54 Below, where he has performed with Chuck Cooper, Lindsay Mendez, Barrett Foa, Nathan Lee Graham, Rema Webb, Kenita Miller, Joshua Henry, and others.
Joe held the percussion chair for Broadway's recent "Annie" revival, but he’s most challenged and finds great fulfillment doing one of the most demanding jobs in NY - being the substitute drummer. He is often involved in up to 10 shows simultaneously, and it's not uncommon for him to play at four different theaters on the same weekend.
He has played drums/percussion on the following Broadway shows: Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Grease: You’re the One that I Want, South Pacific, Next To Normal, La Cage aux Folles, Everyday Rapture, Book of Mormon, Sister Act, Nice Work if You Can Get It, Leap of Faith, Spiderman, Wicked, Annie, Violet, Matilda, Cabaret, Aladdin, Bullets Over Broadway, Les Miserables 2014 Revival, On the Town, It Shoulda Been You, Something Rotten, American in Paris, The Color Purple 2015 Revival, Cats 2016 Revival, Bronx Tale, Bette Midler Hello Dolly, Frozen, The Cher Show, The Band’s Visit, Kiss Me Kate(2019), West Side Story (2019) and Dear Evan Hansen.
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Clayton Craddock hosts the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast and Newsletter. He has held the drum chair in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill and Ain’t Too Proud.
The Broadway Drumming 101 Instagram page: Instagram
The Broadway Drumming 101 YouTube page: YouTube
For more about Clayton, click HERE
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