Biography

Joe, aka Baba Omi, was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. In 2003, he received his bachelor's degree in "Performance of Percussion Instruments from Diverse Cultures" from Indiana University. Shortly after, he began work on a master's degree from IU studying steel pan and hand drums. During that time Joe was able to study under artists such as David Baker, Steve Houghton, Anthony Cirone, and Daniel Alfonso Herrera.

He is currently employed as an adjunct professor and accompanist for the Indiana University Modern Dance Department. While working, he has accompanied several prominent guest dance companies: Urban Bush Women, Paul Taylor Company, Bill Evans, Paschal Younge, Ben Munisteri, and the Martha Graham Company.

Joe recently signed an endorsement agreement with steel pan makers Panyard INC. He plays on all Panyard instruments and equipment. Panyard will soon offer a signature 'Joe Galvin' series of mallets adapted to four-mallet pan playing. Please visit the Panyard Artist page for more information.

Throughout his professional career Joe has played a variety of festivals and concerts. Some of which include the Indy Jazz fest 2000 with the North Central Jazz Band, Bloomington's world music concert series: Lotus Fest and Lotus Blossoms, the Library of Congress in Washington DC, the Broad Ripple Art Fair in Indianapolis, and most recently with ORI': the Indy Jazz Fest 2007.

As a freelance musician, he has also been blessed with the opportunity to mix sounds with Orlando Cotto, David Sanchez, Tiempo Libre, Freddy Montes, Eddie Mercado, Baisho Matsumoto, Pat Hernly, and Chris Tanner. Joe is looking forward to many more collaborations and performances in the future.