Joey Lugassy is the first of four siblings to be born in America. With 3 sisters all coming from Morocco and the youngest being 16 years older, he was practically raised by four mothers.
Joey started his musical career at age seven when world renowned singer and composer of Sephardic sacred music, Cantor Isaac Behar, selected him as his protégé to sing at Temple-Tifereth Israel in Los Angeles. Thereafter, Lugassy chanted in the Temple every Friday night for most of his childhood with performances before thousands at the Lindy Opera House in Los Angeles. At the age of 15 he was offered a scholarship for Brandeis University to become a Cantor.
As an adult, he has been in various bands in the US and England. In the 1980s he began writing music for children’s pilots and MTV commercials. In 1997 he created Daysix (http://daysix.com/), a Los Angeles based rock band. Daysix has played the L.A. circuit including The Mint and The House of Blues. Among the band’s highlights is a song called “Today” (A Song for Amnesty). Upon hearing this song, Amnesty International’s head of artist’s relations was so moved that she wanted the rights to use it as an official Amnesty International song. Amnesty International gave full access to their video archives in New York and together with Winston & Davis’ Chief Editor, Richard Moreno (Spiderman I and II, Charlie’s Angels, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), directed a powerfully touching music video that debuted at the first Amnesty International Film Festival at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood, California. The video is currently in eight countries around the world.
In 2002 & 2003 Lugassy wrote songs and was the singing voice for the starring character in the popular cult soap series, Port Charles (ABC). Eight songs later he was nominated for two Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Original Song in a Drama Series. He continues to write for various television projects which include All My Children and General Hospital (ABC/Disney).
Joey has been formally studying metaphysics since 1976. One class alone lasted for 23 years. He has taught classes, workshops and served on a panel at USC as a lay philosopher. His intention is to show through essays, art and music, the common thread that goes through all the great religions of the world. His area of particular interest is translating metaphor. His main teachers are William W. Walter, Alan Watts, Phil Gerlach, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ammachi and Ram Dass for whom he has great love and gratitude.
His current love is his harmonium; an Indian keyboard used for kirtan, a path of yoga called bhakti in which devotional chanting is practiced. In 2004, Joey was graced to study kirtan with Grammy nominee and World Music pioneer, Jai Uttal. This work and subsequent relationship with Uttal helped open an area that has been pressing since childhood; “Transforming performance to prayer.” This same year Joey was humbled to sing for Zen Master, Poet, Author, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Thich Nhat Hanh. He muses and laughs at the thought that his life has come full circle and is once again chanting. “The experience of chanting these ancient Sanskrit words is mind and heart altering.”
In 2005 he joined the internationally celebrated group, Shaman’s Dream (Sounds True Records) where he performs lead vocals, percussions and harmonium. Joey’s ecstatic chanting and kirtan is often featured at world-renowned yoga teacher, Shiva Rea retreats and events including Esalen Institute.
Joey performs and gives workshops on chanting and the non-sectarian nature of Hinduism mostly throughout his home city, Los Angeles and the San Francisco area. He is currently busy at work with Shaman’s Dream, television projects, kirtans, a forthcoming CD & DVD and in his (with partner Jess Wall) full production facility, Daysix Studios.