Joe Bishop (November 27, 1907 – May 12, 1976) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and composer, known for his contributions to the genre through both performance and composition. Born in Monticello, Arkansas, Bishop began his musical journey learning piano, trumpet, and tuba as a child. He later expanded his repertoire to include the flugelhorn and mellophone. Bishop attended Hendrix College and began his professional career with the Louisiana Ramblers in 1927, performing in locations such as Mexico.

Throughout his career, Bishop played with notable bands and musicians, including Mart Britt, Al Katz, and Austin Wylie. He spent five years with Isham Jones's band before becoming a founding member of Woody Herman's band in the 1930s. Unfortunately, Bishop's career as a performer was cut short in 1940 when he contracted tuberculosis, forcing him to leave Herman's band. However, he continued to contribute to the music world as a staff arranger for Herman in the 1940s, with his arrangements and compositions appearing on approximately 50 of Herman's albums.

Bishop's compositions, including "Midnight Blue," "Woodchopper's Ball," and "Blue Prelude" (co-written with Gordon Jenkins), have been covered by a diverse range of artists, from the British blues band Ten Years After to the easy-listening ensemble led by Lawrence Welk. Despite health challenges that led to his retirement from studio work in the 1950s, Bishop's legacy in jazz endured. He eventually left the music industry to open a store in Saranac Lake, New York, and later retired to Texas, where he passed away in Houston on May 12, 1976.