About

I am a professor of audio production, composer and piano artist. It all started by growing up in a musical family, and beginning formal lessons at age ten. Two years late, music became my life vocation when my father enlisted me as the saxophonist for his country-rock band. As the band-in-residence at a Chattanooga business called Browns, we played the classics every weekend for five long years.

During this time (age 15), I caught the rock star dream and declared myself a keyboard player who happened to play saxophone too. As a result, two years later (two months before high school graduation), I joined Blaze, an amazing local rock band. We played a lot of great music from the early ‘80s by bands such as Journey and Styx. We also wrote original music and was destined to get a record label. But after an unfortunate break-up, I turned my interest to college and became a student for eight long years earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s in music (University of TN and Radford).

But that didn’t stop me from performing. I was the keyboardist and saxophonist for another four years at a Chattanooga venue called Katies’ (my parents were the owners). We had fun, but my family sold the business and I turned my focus to jazz and by this time, I had become proficient enough to play jazz gigs through the remainder of my student-life.

Jazz had become my obsession, but I was blindsided by a health condition and family illness that changed my perspective on life and music. After my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s diesease, all I wanted to do is help people. This new purpose in life led me to teaching and composing music that was peaceful. I began teaching music at Chattanooga State and recorded my first piano-focused album, Keys to the Heart.

But after several years, I was not content. In the year 2000, I was offered a teaching position at the prestigious Middle TN State University’s Recording Industry Program. My wife and I relocated to Murfreesboro, TN and my new teaching career began (now 25 years!). The first five years at MTSU, I completed a doctorate in education at TN State University. Soon after, I returned to releasing music. That creative spark has led to a dozen albums, performing in concerts across the United States and a few prestigious awards - include Whisperings Album of the Year 2021 for Dream World.

My life has been a fulfilling musical journey and if the music I create touches a person the least bit, it is a life well spent.

- Joseph Akins