Jo Serrapere (sarah-pear), a songwriter from the Detroit area, started playing guitar at 23 when seeking out lessons from Delta Blues guitarist, Shari Kane. Shortly thereafter, Jo began writing her own songs while completing her college studies in clinical psychology. She is currently taking time off from touring and playing mostly local gigs while completing her new cd. Whether recreating old songs from the Mississippi Delta or performing songs in her own confessional style, Jo's music stands original while always reflecting her love of American roots music. Her eclectic writing and performance fuses elements of various modern and traditional folk music, old-time and electric blues styles, roots rock, garage surf, swing, hot jazz and alt-country. Jo and WDs have performed twice on NPR's A Prairie Home Companion and have been featured at the North American Folk Alliance Conference. Jo, along with songwriter K.C. Groves, was the founding member of the all-female old-time/bluegrass group, Uncle Earl. Jo still performs with her band, the Willie Dunns (John Devine, Jef Reynolds and Stuart Tucker) who brings added depth and musical styling to Jo's original songs as well as classics from such artists as Mississippi John Hurt, Bessie Smith and Tom Waits. She also sings in the a capella group, Lorelei who performed at this year's Superbowl XL.
"I might take a train, I might take a plane, but if I have to walk, I know I'm gonna see Jo Serrapere again. Like anybody else who might make you laugh and cry in the same song, she's too good to pass up."
- Dave Marsh, music critic, Author of Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story and former editor of Creem & Rolling Stone magazines
