10/09/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/1F9eDCGFCW/
TAOS, NEW MEXICO — Beloved singer-songwriter Joe Ely, known for his legendary contributions to American music, has recently been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Together with his wife Sharon, Joe is sharing their journey—not to dwell in hardship, but to bring understanding, awareness, and hope through the healing power of music.
“Our story is about how music continues to lift us up,” Sharon shares. “Revisiting Joe’s recordings and hearing them brought to life again has given him so much joy, and we want others to feel that same joy too.”
The Power of Letting Go
We want to share a story that has always guided us, one that feels even more meaningful now.
When Joe was just 18 years old, he was traveling in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia with a theater group performing an anti-war play. On his day off, he wandered down to the sea. Rather than follow the crowds to the main diving spot, he chose a quieter, riskier cliff.
He dove beautifully into the water—only to be caught in a rip current. No matter how hard he swam, the tide dragged him farther out. A former lifeguard in Lubbock, Joe knew what to do, but the sea was stronger than him.
As exhaustion overtook him, something extraordinary happened. A calmness washed over him, and a voice—what we believe was an angel—spoke clearly: “Let go. Float.”
Joe obeyed. He stopped fighting, turned onto his back, and allowed the current to carry him. Miles down the coast, the tide delivered him to a safe, empty beach. Hungry, wet, and exhausted, he walked back to the castle where his fellow actors and musicians were staying.
That moment became a life lesson: sometimes the way forward is to stop struggling and go with the flow, to trust life’s current. It’s a message that carries us now—reminding us that life, like a song, has its own rhythm, and sometimes the most beautiful thing we can do is let it play.
Rediscovering the Music
Throughout his career, Joe’s recording studio was his sanctuary, where he worked tirelessly to capture his songs and the songs of others. Recently, while going through old files here in the mountains, Sharon uncovered a treasure: intimate recordings of Joe’s voice, guitar, and harmonica.
With the help of Radar Initiative, founded by Grammy Award-winning producer Lee Miles Buchanan, these recordings have been re-envisioned in a way Joe never thought possible. Using the power of new AI technology, Radar Initiative was able to carefully restore the original tapes and generate orchestral arrangements around them—bringing Joe’s dream of symphonic recordings to life.
Far from replacing human artistry, the technology became a bridge. It allowed the music to flow into new territory at a time when traditional recording sessions—with their enormous costs and physical demands—would have been impossible. The result is that Joe now stands as one of the first artists in his genre to blend his classic sound with AI-driven orchestration, a bold and moving step forward.
“When Joe first heard the orchestrated version of ‘Raining in My Heart’ he lit up,” Sharon says. “It was like hearing the songs reborn, exactly as he had always imagined them.”
A Dream Fulfilled
Buddy Holly had begun recording with a symphony orchestra in New York City. He completed four songs, but his life ended before he could finish the project. Both Buddy and Joe were born in Lubbock, Texas, and Buddy’s groundbreaking music deeply influenced and inspired Joe’s own path as a songwriter.
As a tribute to Buddy, Joe recorded “Raining in My Heart” ten years ago, alone in his studio—always hoping to one day add orchestral sounds, just as Buddy had dreamed of for his own songs.
Now, through the love of friends, the vision of Radar Initiative, and the tools of today, that dream has been realized for Joe as well.
“When I listen to the songs I recorded awhile back in my studio about 10 years ago and then see how these songs are recently transformed with Lee’s expertise as a producer and musician by using the new tools we have today, I say to myself—‘perfect,’” Joe Ely shares.
The first of these songs, “Raining in My Heart,” will soon be released, followed by “One Day at a Time” and more treasures from Joe’s archives. These are not just songs—they are gifts of healing, resilience, and beauty.
Continuing the Journey
Though daily life has changed, Joe remains what he has always been: a brilliant musician, a storyteller, and a light in the world. With Sharon by his side, and the support of those who love him, Joe continues to share his music and his heart.
About Joe Ely:
Joe Ely is a singer-songwriter whose career spans decades of groundbreaking music, collaborations, and performances. He has been celebrated for his powerful voice, poetic lyrics, and his enduring contributions to American music.
About Radar Initiative:
Founded by Grammy Award-winning producer Lee Miles Buchanan, Radar Initiative is an entertainment company specializing in artist development, production, and creative collaboration—pioneering new ways to connect classic artistry with modern technology. https://weareradarinitiative.com
"Raining In My Heart" is set for release on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 on Rack’em Records, distributed by Thirty Tigers. Click here for pre-order link:
https://30tgrs.ffm.to/raininginmyheart
NOTE: Joe & Sharon are working on a book about his life, and are inviting friends and fans to submit stories of his musical career to be considered for inclusion. Submissions can be sent to:
[email protected]
Or, any written physical material please send to :
Joe Ely
4 San Francisco St
P.O. Box # 170
Ranchos De Taos 87557
Photo by Todd V Wolfson
Media contact:
Lance Cowan
LCMedia
615.210.1478
[email protected]
