Frank151 would like to extend its heartfelt sympathy to the friends and family of Joey Semz, who passed away April 7, 2007. Semz will be remembered by those that encountered him as an explosive artistic force. Making his presence felt in New York City as a fierce graffiti artist starting in the mid-90s and into the early 2000s, he was a master of both hardcore street bombing and crushing walls with intense multi-color pieces. After growing tired of the dramas associated with graffiti, he would put down the spray can and pick up a guitar, directing his creative energies into making music. Self-produced, homemade albums such as Cowboys In IRAK, would generate underground buzz, and those who had a chance to hear his early work encouraged him to continue pursuing his blossoming musical talent. In 2006 Semz would release his first official album, A Great Believer. The album is truly a masterpiece, with a sound that drew comparisons to a modern day Bob Dylan. Capturing the scene of his downtown New York stomping ground, and the struggles of him and his friends, the emotionally charged album went largely unnotticed by the public at large. For all those curious to gain more insights into the life of this prolific artist, the album deserves a listen - proving that under a tough exterior lay a gentle soul. A Great Believer will certainly stand as a testament into a deeply creative soul who was compelled to share his art with the world. His presence will truly be missed, as New York City suffers another untimely loss of an artist that died just when he was beginning to hit his stride.

You can hear a sample of his work online at myspace.com/joeysemz

This entry was posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 1:04 pm and is filed under Art, New York. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.