By Chris Spiewak
It is common for a musician to change instruments at some point in a career. It often happens early, in an artist’s formative years as they decide what appeals to them and the degree of difficulty involved. It is less likely that a major change of direction would happen after, say, age 50, but it’s not unheard of. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” does not apply to Wall resident Joe Napolitano, who took decades of guitar talent and transformed himself into one of the most sought-after pedal steel guitar players in central Jersey.
Growing up in Neptune and Asbury Park, “Joe Nap,” as his friends call him, took a great liking to sports in grammar school, but, as he says, he “quit growing” and never made the necessary height that he needed for the basketball court or the baseball diamond. Early in high school he picked up his first guitar and never looked back. As part of the popular band Rockinon in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Napolitano performed at all of the big clubs on Asbury Park’s “Circuit” as well as other famed venues in the area. One night, however, after a very late-night gig at the legendary Satellite Lounge in Cookstown, where a band might play until 4 a.m., he decided that the end was near.
Accepted at the esteemed Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, he went on to earn a degree in physical therapy and opened his own office in the late ‘80s. At the time, physical therapy was becoming more popular and the boom led him to open three more locations in the early ‘90s. Instead of working a regular 40-hour week and playing music on the weekends, he soon found himself working 60-hour weeks managing his four offices. As so frequently happens, music took a back seat while his business career flourished.
In 2010, Napolitano received a call from longtime friend and guitarist Tim Wildeman to sit in with Wildeman’s band Time Piece, and the magic was reborn. Wildeman, singer/songwriters Andy Russo (of Strumberry Pie) and Tim Cusack (of JP Gotrock fame) then formed The Woodfield Brothers, and they became a successful trio along the Shore. In late 2012, he decided that he would attempt to learn the pedal steel guitar. Little did he know that he would have plenty of time to learn his new craft.
Super Storm Sandy came ashore in October 2012 and, after years of increased competition in the health care industry, destroyed Napolitano’s remaining office. Out of necessity he rented space in another therapist’s office three days a week to stay in business. This left “some time to learn the pedal steel guitar” he said, while trying hard to rebuild his customer base. Keeping in mind that the pedal steel is one of the most difficult instruments in the world to master, he had his work cut out for him. The pedal steel guitar consists of one, two or three necks, pedals to raise pitch and knee levers to raise or lower the pitch of a note or chord. The most common rigs today involve two necks, one incorporating E9 tuning and the other with C6 tuning. Drummers have it tough, utilizing two hands and two feet. Pedal steel guitar players add both of their knees to the equation and are certainly some of the most coordinated beings on the planet.
Instructional DVDs at first led to online instruction from some great players like Nashville legend Paul Franklin. With an instrument that takes, as he puts it, “a full year of playing just to ‘stink’ at it,” Napolitano has worked exceptionally hard to get to where he is today.
When renowned local musicians call for your services, you must be doing something right. If Gordon Bunker Strout of The Glimmer Grass Band and Blue Highways fame asks you to join a new project called Sheriff Restless, you join. When John Hathaway of the Neil Young tribute band Decade asks you to join, you reply “where and what time.” And when owner, pro producer and engineer Joe DeMaio of Shorefire Recording Studios in Long Branch calls and invites you to sit it with several different artists during their recording sessions, you RSVP without hesitation. His stellar reputation is something Napolitano is proud of and he is eagerly looking forward to performing live in 2021.
Fans can get a taste of Joe on Steven Keene’s album “It Is What It Is” (Spotify, YouTube) where he has a beautiful solo on the track “Don’t Blame It On The Alcohol,” and can get additional info on Joe’s Facebook page. A student of his craft, “Joe Nap” has successfully changed course in his career. As Page/Plant wrote long ago “in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”
Chris Spiewak is a 40-year veteran of the Shore music scene.
The article originally appeared in the October 22 – 28, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
