about
Singer|songwriter Joy Zimmerman's soulful vocals and original music dance effortlessly from poignant to hilarious to compelling to joyful -- round-trip guaranteed!
With folk rock as a springboard, Joy dives into the everyday and the extraordinary.
Joy Zimmerman is a soulful singer|songwriter known for compelling vocals, award-winning songs, and captivating performances.
A traveling musician based in Kansas City, Joy recently released To the Girl, her sixth album of original music. Joy is a multi-instrumentalist whose eclectic music might be best described as folk rock with extra helpings of other favorite genres.
Born with a tooth on Shakespeare's 400th birthday, Joy's musical journey began with violin lessons before kindergarten. She discovered her singing and songwriting voice once she started guitar lessons after her own children were in kindergarten. All roads have led here. Now Joy's songwriting awards include an American Songwriter Lyric Contest Honorable Mention and nine Walnut Valley Festival NewSong Showcase wins.
Joy has recorded three albums in Nashville and three in Kansas City. She enjoys performing solo, in duos and with a full band. Joy is also an engaging presenter who weaves music with themes of resilience, gratitude and creativity.
“Joy has a wonderfully unique way of connecting to her audience that I have seen no other performer do...she engages every audience and wraps everyone in a velvet blanket of beautiful music.”
— Peggy Kelly, Open Range Concert Series
Reviews of Joy's latest album "To the Girl"
"I've been on the road....and listening to Joy Zimmerman's very cool music from her latest CD, To the Girl! The production is SO smooth and well suited for her voice and songs. A couple of standouts: Why Be Normal has a "world music" feel to it and a super cool vibe. What Next could be a calling card song! Both set the table for another dimension for Joy as a writer/performer. Truly, they make me want to know "what's next" from JZ."
David G Smith, Nashville singer|songwriter, First Place Winner 2008 International Song Contest
"Joy Zimmerman – To the Girl is For all of us. Joy Zimmerman has been a prolific singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist touring and recording for the past 10 years. To the Girl is Joy’s sixth album in that time and her most eclectic and engaging yet. Recorded at Weights and Measures in Kansas City and co-produced with her lead guitarist Jimmy Dykes, To the Girl is a must listen. Not just once but over and over again.
Joy’s clear as a bell vocals and guitar and fiddle playing are supported by the skilled musicianship of Jimmy Dykes, Ryan Dugan, Nicholas Sloan and Cindy Egger on this eleven track genre bending album. Not only is the album eclectic from song to song but at times within the song. The track, “What Next” begins as a folk song and morphs into a prog rock song reminiscent of the best jams from 1970’s.
Joy’s lyrics take on a new depth with each listen. On tracks like “Pretty Sure”, “Why Be Normal”, “If You’re Late to the Party” and the title track are all clever and insightful takes on life, love and growing older. The combination of Joy’s voice and her poignant lyrics are like advice from a trusted friend. “Bob & Me” is an ingenious song about the possibility of being related to Mr. Bob (Dylan) Zimmerman. Joy’s instrumental powers ignite on the original fiddle tune “Roach on a Hot Griddle”. And the beautiful “Big and Wide as the Sky” is a musical blessing for parents and children alike.
To the Girl by Joy Zimmerman is a powerful musical experience for us all."
Kathy Forste, Music Director KC Café Radio
Click here for an extended interview: Joy Zimmerman @ Listen Local
