Joe Camilleri: The Black Sorrows, Jo Jo Zep & 60 Years in Music

Joe Camilleri is one of the most influential and enduring figures in Australian music, and in this episode he shares the remarkable story behind a career that has spanned more than six decades. From his early life as a migrant child growing up in Melbourne to becoming the driving force behind Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, Joe’s journey is filled with passion, persistence and reinvention.

In this conversation, Joe reflects on leaving school at a young age, working tough jobs, and finding his identity through music. He talks about teaching himself to play, learning by ear, and the formative years performing hundreds of gigs with bands like The Kingbees. As his musical interests evolved, Joe embraced the saxophone and began shaping a sound that blended blues, rock, jazz and soul.

He opens up about the rise of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons, the challenges of recording and finding success, and the intense pressures that came with fame. When the momentum slowed, Joe faced a difficult period that ultimately led him to rethink his path and start again.

That reinvention came with The Black Sorrows, a band that would go on to define a new chapter in his career. With the support of Elvis Costello and a creative partnership with Nick Smith, Joe found renewed success and international recognition through a string of hit songs.

Today, Joe continues to tour and create, driven by a deep love of music and a desire to keep evolving. This episode offers a candid and inspiring look at the life of an artist who has truly lived through the highs and lows of the industry and emerged with a story worth telling.