Mendelson Joe

Identity area

Type of entity

Person

Authorized form of name

Mendelson Joe

Parallel form(s) of name

    Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

      Other form(s) of name

      • Joe Mendelson
      • Birrel Josef Mendelson
      • Mendelson, Birrel Josef

      Identifiers for corporate bodies

      Description area

      Dates of existence

      1944-

      History

      Mendelson Joe (b Birrel Josef Mendelson, often known as Joe Mendelson) was born and raised in Maple, Ontario. He is an active writer, musician, painter, and political activist.
      After graduating from the University of Toronto, Joe worked as a blues musician, playing guitar. At this time, he performed using the name Joe Mendelson. By 1968, he had joined fellow Canadian guitarist Mike McKenna and formed the band McKenna Mendelson Mainline. As a band, they entertained fans till 1972 when they split, though they briefly reformed in 1975.

      Joe’s music career continued as he performed as a solo artist. It is also then when he adopted the reversal of his names, opting for Mendelson Joe, instead of the previous Joe Mendelson. Since becoming a musician, he has released many titles, including the hit “Dance with Joe”. As a musician he has appeared on Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show. Albums released include: Women Are The Only Hope, Buried Treasure, Art Is the Healer, Humans, and Canuckian.

      1975 was an important year for Joe. Not only did he begin his solo career as a musician, but he also began to paint. After finding some old paint in the garbage, he tried his hand at the visual medium. He is now an internationally recognized contemporary Canadian artist. His work has been shown internationally, and some is housed in the government run Art Bank. Since 2000, he has lived in the Almaguin Highlands north of Muskoka, Ontario.

      Places

      Toronto, Ontario
      Almaguin Highlands, Ontario

      Legal status

      Functions, occupations and activities

      Mandates/sources of authority

      Internal structures/genealogy

      General context

      Relationships area

      Access points area

      Subject access points

      Place access points

      Occupations

      Control area

      Authority record identifier

      Maintained by

      University of Toronto Media Commons Archives

      Institution identifier

      Rules and/or conventions used

      Status

      Draft

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation, revision and deletion

      Created August 13, 2019 by Elizabeth Carroll.

      Language(s)

      • English

      Script(s)

        Sources

        The Canadian Encyclopedia. “Mendelson Joe.” Last updated December 16, 2013. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/mendelson-joe-emc

        Crisolago, Mike. “Artist Mendelson Joe On His Life’s Work.” Zoomer July 2016. https://www.everythingzoomer.com/arts-entertainment/2016/07/13/artist-mendelson-joe-lifes-work/

        Karen Robinson Gallery. “About Mendelson Joe.” Accessed August 13, 2019. http://www.karenrobinsongallery.com/about-mendelson-joe/

        MacGregor, Roy. “Musician, artist, firebrand: Joe paints a dark picture.” The Globe and Mail Toronto, June 16, 2010. http://myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/docview/498142448?accountid=14771

        Muskoka Arts & Crafts. “Mendelson Joe.” Members’ Studios. Accessed August 13, 2019. http://www.muskokaartsandcrafts.com/Members'_Studios/Members/Mendelson_Joe/mendelson.htm

        Maintenance notes