[ biography ] [ facts ]
Name: Joe Logan Diffie
Nicknames: JD
Birthdate: December 28, 1958
Hometown: Velma, Oklahoma
Mother and Father: Joe Riley and Flora Diffie
Siblings: Meg and Monica
Children: Parker, Kara, Tyler, Drew, Kylie
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 195
Eyes: Blue
Booking Agency: Buddy Lee Attractions
Band Name: The Joe Diffie Band is: Drums-Nic Milliner, Keyboards-Ken Soper, Guitar-Jason Roller, Bass-
Ger Hoffman, Steel and Acoustic Guitar-
Vic Lawson, Background vocals-Parker Diffie, Jason Roller and Ken Soper, Dancers-Ken Soper and Parker Diffie.
Crew Members: Tour manager-Ken Soper, Stage manager-Parker Diffie, Lighting director-Dave McGraw, Front
of House Engineer-Will "Skippy" Johnson
Famous for: "Electric Blue Eyes"
Hair: Blonde
Biggest musical influence: My Dad, George Jones, Merle Haggard
Favorite singer, male or female: Ricky Skaggs, George Jones, Keith Whitley, Ronnie Milsap, Merle Haggard, Frank Sinatra
Favorite song you've written: Is It Cold In Here
Favorite song you've recorded: Ain't That Bad Enough or Ships That Don't Come In
Favorite song to perform live: Is It Cold In Here or Ships That Don't Come In
First song you have written: Prodigal Son, I think...
First song you have recorded: Home
First musical instrument: Guitar - Learned on Dads F-hole Airline from Sears & Roebuck
Favorite Cigar: Partagas Maduro
Favorite passtimes: Golf, Reading, Crossword puzzles, watching television, making wine/beer, working on Pro-tools recording equipment, cooking and playing with Kylie.
Favorite author: John Grisham or Anne Rice
Favorite dessert: Warm Chocolate chip cookies
Favorite food: Mexican or pizza
Favorite sport: Football on TV or golf
Boxers or briefs: Yes!
First car: "UGLY" 1963 Pontiac Star Chief
First job: Worked on a farm
First love: Laurie Valentine in 3rd grade
Favorite subject in school: Science
Favorite teacher in school: Mr Schmidtt, 7th grade Science
First band: Blitz - Played Rock and Roll, Only knew 4 songs
If you could have dinner with any one person in history, who would it be?: Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Hank Williams, Sr
• Singer – Songwriter with over 112 songs written, co-written, and/or arrangements to his credit.
• 12 #1 Chart Hits
• Over 20 Top 10 Chart Hits
• 2 Platinum Albums
• 2 Gold Albums
• Sold over 8 million albums
• CMA for Vocal Event of the Year with George Jones on “I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair” in 1993. Nominated for CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1992 and for a CMA for his duet with Mary-Chapin Carpenter on “Not Too Much To Ask” which Joe wrote.
• Cashbox Magazine Male Vocalist of the Year 1990
• Billboard Magazine Top Singles Artist of the Year 1990
• Member of the Grand Ole Opry, inducted in 1993
• Grammy for “Same Old Train” in 1998
• “Home” -- Joe's first debut single became the first single, at number one, in history to top the country music charts of Billboard , Radio & Records , and Gavin Report simultaneously. According to imusic.com, Joe was also the “first country singer to be accorded a #1 hit his first time at bat” with “Home”.
• Country Radio Broadcasters Humanitarian Award 1997.
• “She Ain't Comin' Back” provided a theme for the blockbuster movie Twister.
• “Pickup Man” re-recorded in 2005 for use in television commercials for the restaurant chain Applebee's.
• Along with singing a good country song, Joe is also a successful songwriter having most recently collaborated on Jo Dee Messina's smash hit My Give A Damn's Busted . Other famous songs of Joe's include Tim McGraw's Memory Lane , Holly Dunn's “There Goes My Heart Again”, Doug Stone's Burning Down The Town , Tracy Lawrence's I Got A Feeling , Conway Twitty's I'm The Only Thing I'll Hold Against You , and more.
• Joe also founded the First Steps concert and golf tournament – an annual event which raises money for disabled children –in honor of his son Tyler.
• 2007 and 2008 on the Rockin' Roadhouse Tour with Aaron Tippin and Mark Chestnut.
• September 6, 2008 Joe plans to begin shows in Branson, Missouri at the Yakov Smirnoff Theatre. Fans will be able to see Joe along with friends, family, and comedian Paul Harris at 8:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday, in a live show.
• Married to Theresa and father to five children Parker, Kara, Tyler, Drew, and Kylie.
• Born and raised in Oklahoma.
