Joe Greene
Joe Greene, born Joseph Arthur Greene on September 29, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, is an American gospel and soul singer and songwriter. Known for his male soprano voice, Greene was particularly active during the late 1960s and 1970s. He gained recognition as a backing vocalist for prominent rock artists, contributing to a polished vocal performance on their recordings. Greene was part of the elite group of studio backing vocalists in the U.S., working alongside singers like Vanetta Field and Clydie King.
As a songwriter, Greene frequently collaborated with Billy Preston, co-writing several songs including Preston's Grammy-winning 1972 hit "Outa-Space." His songwriting credits also include "Let the Music Play" on Preston's 1970 album "Encouraging Words" and the title track of Preston's 1979 album "Late at Night." Greene's work extended to artists such as Quincy Jones, the Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, and Harry Nilsson. Notably, he was part of "The Soul Choir" that performed with George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, and Leon Russell at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971.
In June 1971, Greene signed a songwriting deal with Preston's publishing company, WEP Music, but later sued for $500,000, claiming unpaid profits from hits like "Outa-Space." Despite the legal dispute, Greene continued to work with Preston.
In later years, Greene shifted his focus away from rock music to concentrate on gospel and choral projects, drawing upon his roots in gospel music.
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