Joey started playing the drums at age 12. He co-formed Streetlight in 1984 with friend Stevie Verveat, performing as their lead singer and sound consultant, staying with the band until 1998. Joey also played drums and sang leads and backgrounds with Ray-Band, sang 1st tenor and lead in The Cameos, did fill-in work with bands like the Infernos and Time Machine, and played drums in a house band, where he met singer John Clemente.