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BIRTHDAY: July 19th, Cancer

Joe started his music career back in the early 70's playing bass with a Top-40 Wedding band called "Free and Easy". In 1977, he joined up with "Centre Stage", working as their sound engineer and sitting in on keybords just for fun. Through the 80's and early 90's Joe played keyboards for a variety of bands in the Rochester and sourrounding area, touching on a variety of music styles including Disco, Funk, Blues, and Rock.

In 1995, Joe joined the Country band "Cheyenne" playing keyboards and rhythm guitar, and singing lead and background vocals, where he stayed for 4 years before joining "Last Exit" and meeting Kevin Smith (Double Cross's current drummer). Joe joined as a lead/backgound vocalist and keyboard/guitar player, but soon after moved over to playing bass. Last Exit moved away from country and branched out into a wide variety of music, covering such artists as Stevie Wonder, Delbert McClinton, Bonnie Rait, The Doobie Brothers, Wilson Picket, Heart, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and much more.

Last Exit broke up in 2002 and Joe played with the band "Closing Time" for a while where he got a chance to play with Steve Waldo (current lead guitar player for Double Cross). The band played mostly traditional Country and it was a pleasure to hear Steve playing his Tele as only he can.

In 2003, Joe was hired by the 70's and 80's classic rock band "Seventh Heaven". This was a drastic change from the past, playing music from artists like Aerosmith, Poison, Molly Hatchet, AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Boston, and much more. It was a challenging but fun change and the guys in the band were great to work with.

Finally, in March of 2006, Joe joined up with Double Cross. It was great to be working with Steve and Kevin again, and great to be back in country music. The combination of Kevin's blues roots, Joe's rock and funk background, Steve's traditional coutry playing, and Darrell's rock-edged guitar playing, was a perfect combination and a great fit. That, combined with TW's voice, and a now 4-singer lead/harmony row, all made for a unique and versitile team.

"I am happy to have the opportunity to play with such a diverse and talented group of musicians. I look forward to a long and lasting relationship with this group of musicians who have become my best friends."

- Joe Chimera

In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a monstrous creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that terminated in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her spine. The Chimera was one of the offspring of Typhon and Echidna and a sibling of such monsters as Cerberus and the Lernaean Hydra.