JOE CAMILLERI: MUSICIAN OF THE MONTH – NOVEMBER 2024 [Video]

Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips had great pleasure in sitting down with Australian music royalty Joe Camilleri in his home studio to chat about his career and the making of The Black Sorrows album The Way We Do Business. Video assistance and photos by Jason Rosewarne.

It’s significant that the Joe Camilleri led band, The Black Sorrows has just released their 24th studio album The Way We Do Business but what’s more apparent is the high quality of songs, musicianship and production on the record. The band is as relevant today as they’ve ever been.

The Way We Do Business features Philly soul, New Orleans roll, a little rockabilly, blues and on one song titled City of Soul, a return to the fabulous Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons sound, a track which includes three members of that band including Jeff Burstin, Tony Faehse and Wilber Wilde.

Any examination of The Black Sorrows inevitably comes down to one person. Joe Camilleri (singer, songwriter, saxophonist, producer and the brains behind The Black Sorrows) is one of the most genuinely talented figures in Australian music. And while The Black Sorrows have released their 24th studio album The Way We Do Business – this release is also frontman Joe Camilleri’s 55th career album.

Writer of milestone Australian songs such as So Young, Hit And Run, Shape I’m In, Hold On To Me, Harley and Rose, Chained To The Wheel, Never Let Me Go and the Chosen Ones, Camilleri has dedicated his life to making music. Leader of two of Australia’s most successful bands, Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, Joe’s music has become part of Australian music culture. He was inducted along with other members of the Falcons, into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 2007. Over the years other greats have admired Camilleri’s songwriting. Elvis Costello and John Denver are just two who have recorded cover versions of Joe’s music.