Joe Vitale Jr of Northeast Ohio on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Joe Vitale Jr shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Joe, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
With the daily stresses of life, it can be easy to get caught up in the craziness of it all and sometimes you just need to unplug for a bit and let all of the white noise go. Everyone is different and each has ways of coping in various ways. For me personally, I love to be on the water either kayaking, on our boat or hiking my favorite post glacier rock formations known as Virginia Kendall in Ohio. It allows me to let go of everything except what I am seeing and just taking it all in and walking away from the logistical side of my artistic life.

Another aspect and probably the most important one is to pray to God. I try to have an ongoing conversation with God through prayer throughout the day. When I receive His peace that surpasses all understanding, it helps me stay calm, look at things differently and focus what I am doing.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Joe Vitale Jr and I’m a recording artist fronting the alternative rock band, Ravenwood which is my personal band. I’m a music producer, audio engineer cinematographer & laserist. Along with my full band performances I’m also a solo artist and touring musician. I have performed with Joe Walsh, Crosby Stills and Nash, the Stephen Stills blues Band and I am presently playing drums for Donnie Iris & the Cruisers.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
For me it comes from two sources. One being, I’m a Christian and my relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord & Savior is a majorly important aspect of who I am and how I conduct myself. Down here on Earth everyone is a sinner & no one is perfect as we all fall short of the glory of God and that has made me realize why we need Christ as our Savior. This has really put everything into perspective in my life.

Additionally my wonderful wife, Kathy, and my mom and dad as they are a wonderful, loving support system and encouragement to who I am and what I do in life and my career.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
In a single word, perseverance. If you are simply handed everything in life, what victory is that, as it is fleeting. Suffering through the challenges of life make victory that much more amazing and you can see the miraculous work of God through those circumstances. When all the doors are shut on something you want to do, you have two choices, you can either give up or keep going with a different mindset on how to achieve those goals. It makes you rely on God and His provision in those difficult times and when a door opens you know it is by His grace and will for your life.

Reliance on God is most important and there are benefits to suffering as it builds character, tenacity, creative approaches you might not have thought of if everything was easy, different approaches, thinking outside the box, walking a different path to achieve the same goal. It makes you more creative and far more resilient. God always gives you His provision, guidance & wisdom when you are seeking His will.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
As a Christian, with deep faith in God, I believe the path I’m on is the path I was meant to take to achieve the mission to which God placed me here at this time in history to achieve for His Kingdom. While yes, I do have my own goals and aspirations like anyone else, what matters most and is eternal is what God placed me here for. I have to daily surrender my will to God’s plan for my life and that can be difficult for anyone as we all have things we want to achieve, but while I strive for what I am doing creatively, I am leaving the journey and outcome entirely in God’s hands. That can both be exciting and scary at the same time as you never know what tomorrow may and can bring. But that unknowness also makes it an interesting journey and an exciting path to be on. He has never guided me down the wrong path and while we all make mistakes along the way as we are all flawed as humans, God always will nudge you back on the right path.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
Being I am from a musical family and that my father is a famous drummer, producer & musician, a lot of times people think that everything is easy or is handed to me or that I have it easy in life. Nothing could be further from the truth. While it can help open some doors, I still have to deliver on my side of the equation. I have dedicated my entire life to working hard and approaching everything I do with all I’ve got. I never let things coast by. If I am working on something, you know that I am giving it my best and that I won’t settle for anything other than perfection. Do I make mistakes, of course, we all do, but I take those instances and learn from them approach things differently and make what I do better. Just because you get an opportunity, doesn’t mean you will have success on the path. You have to give it your all, all the time. Throughout my musical life, people compare me to my father all the time and I am very aware of this, and that’s fine but I never let that affect what I do or how I am approach something. I try to always walk into everything with confidence but never afraid to ask questions when I don’t know something or have the openness to learn.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joevitalejr.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/joevitalejrofficial/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/joevitalejr
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joevitalejrofficial
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/joevitalejrofficial

Image Credits
Forshee Media
John C Benson