The greatest music comes from deep within, says piano virtuoso/composer William Joseph, adding that the greatest music also connects deep within the listener.
"There's so much meaning in that one word — within." This may be why Joseph not only chose it as the name for one of his compositions, but also as the title for his debut CD with Warner/Reprise Records. "I express myself through my music, but I always pray that my music will touch other people, that it will uplift and inspire them."
The latest artist to be "discovered" by 14-time Grammy winning producer/songwriter David Foster, Joesph has toured the country with both Josh Groban and Clay Aiken. He has opened for or appeared with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Beyonce, Barbra Streisand, Kenny G and Michael Buble. He's played at Jane Seymour's home, and for Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks.
He opened for Clay Aiken's Salt Lake concert in December and returned earlier this year to introduce his CD and talk about the "whirlwind of excitement" he's enjoyed lately.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Joseph began discovering the music within his soul at an early age.
His parents tell him that at 4, he enjoyed watching the Muppet TV show "Fraggle Rock." "I loved the music, and one day I got my toy piano and put it in front of the TV and started playing along with the show. They decided I needed piano lessons."
They called the first person listed in the phone book. "She just happened to be a graduate of the Leningrad Institute in Russia. I studied classic music with Stella Saperstein for 13 years."
Joseph wrote his first song at 5, something he remembers fondly, if not necessarily because of its quality. "It was called 'The Great Statues.' "
When he was 8, Joseph earned a national scholarship through the Boys and Girls Clubs of America that paid for lessons and music camps for eight years.
At 17, he got a job as the organist for the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team and wrote a theme song and introductory music for the organization.
His first recording, however, came in Australia, where he was serving a mission for the LDS Church. "At that time, a lot of refugees from Kosovo were being relocated there, and one of the families I knew wanted to put together a collection of peace anthems to raise money for the refugees." Joseph contributed the song "Seeds of Hope." "The CD was released nationally, and it was a neat experience. I got to go to the refugee camp to perform, which was very touching."
By the time Joseph got back home, "I knew I wanted to pursue a career in music." But even he didn't dream how the next stage would unfold.
In 2003, a charity event honoring Muhammad Ali was organized in Phoenix by David Foster. "I was told I might get to meet (Foster). I got to go up on the stage, and I started playing 'Within' for him. Some 20 seconds into the song, he started conducting the band that was there for rehearsals, so there I was playing with the band and thinking, 'I better not mess this up.'
"At the end he gave me a high five and asked me what the song was. When I told him I wrote it, he asked me to come back that night and open the show. I'd been married two weeks, and I called my wife and said, 'Honey, do you have a nice dress?' "
Rod Stewart and Reba McEntire were the featured performers, and there was a room full of celebrities, "but when I went back to perform, I got a standing ovation."
Joseph met with Foster again a few days later, and was signed to a recording contract. "I was really thrown into the fire. On my first tour, I was walking out in front of 15,000 people. I always knew music would be a part of my life, but I never imagined working at this level."
While working on his first album, he actually stayed at Foster's house. "That was an experience — helicopters landing in the back yard all the time." He and Foster co-wrote a couple of songs for the album: "Stella's Theme" and "Grace." In addition to some other original compositions, the CD includes a wide range of works — from Chopin and Gounod to Led Zeppelin and Kansas.
It's all been very exciting, he says, but he hasn't let the acclaim go to his head. "My family and the church help me stay grounded."
Now 27, Joseph and his wife still live in Phoenix, and have two children. "It's hard for her when I'm away on tour. She really has the harder job. I'm so thankful for her support."
He's also grateful for opportunities his music has brought him in the LDS Church. "I was able to do a fireside at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) with artist Greg Olsen that was wonderful. In March, I get to play for President Faust's birthday party. I've played at a Women's Conference. Nothing else compares with things like those."
Joseph calls his style of music "classical pop," which he describes as an eclectic mix of influences and genres. "I love so many types of music. I love classical music. I love pop. I love some rock. I love film scores. I see all those genres coming together in my music."
That's the great thing about music, he says. It creates common bonds and common interests among a wide variety of people. "It has great power, and it seems to create opportunities to be closer to people, to relate to people.
"It can create any kind of feeling from love and passion to sadness and poignancy. It all comes from within."
E-mail: carma@desnews.com