Big Joe Matthews

Joe Matthews or “Big Joe” came out of the Oklahoma oil fields with a vision of one day making it to Music City, USA. Now he can say he’s been there and back. Big Joe spent just shy of two years in Nashville, and in that short time he recorded his first album in four years, was signed as an artist to TCM Records, and hosted his own weekly radio show, all while serving as co-editor of Nashville Music Guide, a magazine that attracted more than 250,000 page views per week. Yes sir, the boy was busy living the dream he has had since he was a teen. He didn’t get there by any direct route, though. His dream of making a career of country music took him all over the States before he arrived in Nashville. It first took him to Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked in the oil fields by day and spent his nights at the legendary Billy Bob’s Texas. After Fort Worth, he worked for a time in Iowa, editing a biker magazine and picking up a great deal of real-world magazine experience. “That job was a blessing in disguise,” he says. “My Dad bought the franchises for the magazine in two states, Minnesota and Iowa. He put me in Iowa. It wasn’t a very successful venture for us, except if you look at it as a $100,000 college that my dad put me through later in life. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t be here today.” Matthews learned the tough jobs of editing and layout in Iowa. Joe learned how to put a magazine together on tight deadlines and under huge pressure, how to create good content, and how to find the best writers. “It was priceless experience,” Joe said. “As much as Iowa wasn’t a good deal for the magazine, it’s what God had in mind for me.” And when his uncle, Randy Matthews, purchased Nashville Music Guide, he immediately knew where to find the ideal co-editor. He phoned his nephew Joe. As co-editor, Joe helped usher in a new era for the magazine, both in print and on the web, and expanded the brand with Nashville Music Guide’s Radio Delivery Service and NMGradio.com, which hosted his radio show. At the same time continued to perform and recorded his latest album, Travelin’ Man. “It took me about four years to write and find the right songs,” he says. “I was thinking of this second album ever since I got No Fun Haters done four years before.” And you just can’t expect someone who records an album called Travelin’ Man to stay in any one place for very long. Big Joe is bringing his music, his radio show, and know-how back to the oil fields where it all began, the place where he learned about hard work. “I grew up in an oil-field family,” he says. “Our publishing company is called Oil Trash Music. I’m oil-field trash and I’m proud of it. It’s what drives our family, and it’s what raised us to do things we do.” Website: BigJoeMatthews.com Good Times & Country Music www.bigjoematthews.com For booking or more information email bigjoe@bigjoematthews.com or call 405-318-1763.