I auditioned for them at Milt Okun's place in the Village.  The Trio was due to open in Las Vegas in a month - before beginning a tour with Bob Newhart.  They asked me if I knew any folk songs, so I sang them my union song favorites, "If I had A Hammer" and "Which Side are You On?"  I had the ability to learn the group's repertoire, we blended well, and I seened to be what they were looking for.  So, after auditioning once more for Harry Belafonte, who was going to produce their first record, I was in!

The history of the Trio is found elsewhere on this site.  I would like to add the point that my most distinctive contribution to the group was the emphasis on political and social content.  This continued to be true when John Denver joined us.  John always acknowledged my influence in his awareness of that aspect of folk music and the contribution the Trio made in the increase in people's social consciousness.  He and I remained close friends for the rest of his life - and I miss him still.

The Trio and I parted company in 1967.  By then I was living through the 60's in a more politically radical and counter-culturally questionable fashion than Mike and John.  I had, frankly, become more than somewhat unreliable.  I'm grateful, since then, that I was forced into a life change which led me to Yale Divinity School and to ordination to the Episcopal priesthood in 1973.  Following seminary, I spent a year in the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an Episcopal monastery in Cambridge, Mass.  I've now been a priest for 33 years, having served parishes in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Menlo Park CA, Los Angeles, and now as Vicar of St. Columba's Church in Big Bear Lake, CA.

I've been blessed in my life by having two very wonderful careers... the Episcopal Church and the Chad Mitchell Trio.  God Bless.

We are saddened that Joe is no longer with us.
He passed away on March 28th, 2014