Joy Zimmerman Music

Joy Zimmerman, a soulful singer/songwriter, dives into the everyday and the extraordinary. Known for compelling vocals and captivating performances, Joy is a touring musician based in Kansas City. Her forthcoming album, The Canvas Before Us, is an acoustic reinvention and her seventh studio album. 

******* 

Joy Zimmerman. a soulful singer/songwriter, dives into the everyday and the extraordinary. Known for compelling vocals and captivating performances, Joy is a touring musician based in Kansas City. Her forthcoming album, The Canvas Before Us, is an acoustic reinvention and her seventh studio album. 

Born with a tooth on Shakespeare’s 400th birthday, Joy feels lucky to have discovered her singing and songwriting voice mid-life. Her music is shaped by violin lessons that began before kindergarten, many challenges and joys along the way, and wide-ranging music taste. While she’s listened to a lot of Beethoven, Motown and R.E.M., she’s a sucker for a great James Taylor, Brandi Carlile or I’m With Her song. 

Joy’s songwriting awards include an American Songwriter Lyric Contest Honorable Mention and ten Walnut Valley Festival NewSong Showcase wins. Her music has been described as “vivid and alive, tender and poignant, and altogether a gift for the listener.” (Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, former Kansas Poet Laureate) 

Joy performs solo and has played in duos and with a variety of bands. Past venues include Green Guitar Folk House (KS), Stone Room Concerts (DC), InterUrban ArtHouse (KS), The Warming House (MN), InterContinental Hotel (MO), Chateau Chantal Winery (MI), Taos Inn (NM), McMenamins (OR), Louisville Arts Center (CO), and The Mark Music Series (MO). 

Joy has recorded three albums of original music in Nashville, three studio albums and one live in Kansas City, and a forthcoming album in Sparta, Illinois. 

Once upon a time Joy was a violinist in the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, Concordia College Orchestra, and Kansas City Civic Orchestra. She was also Assistant Music Director at Saint Andrew Christian Church, Director of No Strings Attached, a youth strings program, and Music Leader at Crittenton Children’s Center. 

Combining her background in music and social work, Joy has led workshops and retreats in a variety of settings, including Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing, Children’s Mercy Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, Tall Oaks Conference Center, and MS Achievement Center. Joy believes in the power of music to strengthen our resilience and celebrate our lives. 

“Cultivate Joy” and “Amplify Hope” logos adorn Joy’s merchandise.

“​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

"Joy Zimmerman's "To the Girl" has a heart, to paraphrase the title of one of her songs, as big and wide as the sky. The music here is vivid and alive, tender and poignant, and altogether a gift for the listener."                                                                                                                Caryn Mirriam Goldberg, former Kansas Poet Laureate

"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's "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. This is Joy’s sixth album and her most eclectic and engaging yet. Recorded at Weights and Measures in Kansas City,  'To the Girl" is a must listen. Not just once but over and over again.    

Joy’s lyrics take on a new depth with each listen. The combination of her voice and poignant lyrics are like advice from a trusted friend. "To the Girl" by Joy Zimmerman is a powerful musical experience for us all."   
Kathy Forste, Music Director KC Café Radio