Ancient biographers believed that the adult life of a person was what made a mark in history.
For them the circumstance of an eight-year old playing drums with The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir might not have been of much importance. Yet, for Rev. Aimee Garcia Cortese, it was essential. She knew this youngster had a song in his heart. She likes to tell the story with prophetic humor that her son Joseph Henry Cortese, the youngest of her four children, was brought "directly from the hospital to the church and placed under the Hammond organ." Indeed, for those who know and love Joseph Henry, it is clear that he was set on a pre-ordained course early on in his life.
Childhood memories of being on tour with The Cortese Sisters or accompanying Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz on drums still have special meaning to him. And as he became a classically trained pianist, new opportunities would shape his future. He studied at The Musician's Institute in Hollywood, California. He played/recorded with the likes of Michael Ruff, Justo Almario, Alex Acuna, Mark Ledford, Noel Pointer, Joe Bataan, Bobbi Humphrey, Tom Browne, Yomo Toro, Frankie Cutlass, Bob Francescini, Darryl Jones and many others. Finally, he became the youngest member to play with singer Roberta Flack.
At the pinnacle of this success accompanying others, he decided to turn inward and this was the beginning of the "The Upper Room Music Company," a group that became the tapestry of his composition and production skills. They gave us a trio of progressive recordings including "Somebody Bigger Than You and I," "Brand New Song," and “Heaven Bound".
"The Race" was Joseph Henry’s first solo project that received rave reviews in NYC radio. The title track, “The Race” has been used as a theme song for many events and campaigns and in 1997, he received the Artist Of The Year Award by 970WWDJ.
Joseph Henry Cortese has also performed with such gospel music talent as The Christ Memorial Choir, Damaris Carbaugh, Calvin Hunt, Jason Alvarez, Clinton Utterbach and the Praisers, Sam Cintron, Steve Camp, Sherman Andrus, Sandra Crouch, and his mentor and dear friend, Andrae Crouch.
Joseph Henry has combined talented artists, musicians, rappers, singers, comedians, mime artists, actors and dancers to create the troop that set a new standard for urban hip hop, The Storytellas. The ‘Tellas were a movement, a force that delivered five timeless albums including “No Fairy Tales,” “Hip Bop,” “Strong As Death,” “Parakletos,” and “The Man.”
Joseph Henry Cortese’ other portal for compelling storytelling is through theater. He is a playwright, responsible for writing and directing off-Broadway productions that include "Rooftop," "Man in the Middle," "2 Train," "Run Baby, Run: The Nicky Cruz Story,” and his latest work, “The Music, Life and Times: Donny Hathaway”.
The latest installation to his 20+ album portfolio is “Kenosis.” Accompanying him is the virtuosity of Bob Francecshini on woodwinds, Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Manuel Valera, Ecuadorian phenom Carlos Chong on guitars and his oldest son, Jordan Miles Cortese on bass.