By Julie Marrinucci
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
Elementary school teacher by day and musician by night, Joe Rich is working on his third album titled “King of Goodbyes,” scheduled for release in September. Not surprisingly, the singer/songwriter, who says he loves words and clever phrasing, teaches Language Arts at Blessed Sacrament School in Walpole.
“I want my students to feel equipped to find their own favorite book or poem; I’m hoping they walk away from my class with the tools to connect with anything and everything they read.”
Naturally, Joe’s love for language extends to his songwriting, too. A self-described “Trop Rock” enthusiast (he’s a big fan of Jimmy Buffet), he also enjoys another music genre.
“I like rap because i love a good rhyme. Give me good wordplay and I’m hooked,” he said. “I look at lyrics first - and with Rosebud News, I really loved the story.”
Rosebud News, a song written by Kenny Driska, is about longing - longing for a simpler time and focused on his hometown newspaper in Rosebud, TX., which chronicles the lives of family, friends, and neighbors within its pages.
“When I first heard the song, I really identified with it,” Rich said. “So when some musician friends asked if I wanted to sing it, I said yes. I love local newspapers because they build community. I grew up in Dedham, and when I was away at school and my family would send the newspaper, it would bring me right back to my roots. I know those people in that paper… from feature stories, to obituaries, even the police log.”
The song, on his album titled “Dollar Store Superman,” has been getting attention, hitting the charts on Cruisin’ County Radio’s Top 40 list. The song debuted in November at number 24, and jumped to the Top 10 by February. And number 1 may not be far off.
As for Joe, he continues to teach and to write and perform originals and cover tunes in and around Massachusetts, including Dedham, Plymouth, and Canton.
“I love performing,” he says. “Maybe that’s why I love teaching so much. I think of teaching as performative, too. Part education, part entertainment. I want to make learning fun and I think the kids connect with that.”
To listen to the song “Rosebud News” on Youtube, search Rosebud News, Joe Rich.
To help get the single to number 1, vote by visiting www.cruisincountryradio.com or go to Joe’s Facebook page at facebook.com/joerichmusic.
