Joe Fagan is from Alton, Illinois and spent his formative years playing musicin the St. Louis area. He began playing piano at age four and studied privately when he was 5 and 6 years old and again when he was 13 and 14. At age 10 he began playing the violin, and at age 12 he started playing the bassoon. Joe earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education on bassoon from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, and a Master's Degree in Education from Chapman College in Orange, California. He performed as the principal bassoonist for one concert season in the Midland-Odessa Symphony in Odessa, Texas and taught woodwinds in the Odessa school system.

In 1979, Joe had a complete career change when he joined the United States Air Force to fly F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft as an Electronic Warfare Officer and later on, the F-15E Strike Eagle as an Instructor Weapon Systems Officer. He retired from the military after 24 years and currently resides in Stuttgart, Germany where he works for a private corporation. Throughout his military career, Joe kept up with his music and found a rich music scene in Stuttgart, Germany. He has extensive experience playing piano in both small groups and big band settings.

Since moving to Stuttgart in 1997, he has worked with many fine musicians such as Pops Wilson, Angie Bastians, Davide Petrocca, Rainer Frank, Armin Fischer, Joel Locher, Harriet Lewis, Tom Hyatt, Ray Blue, Lee Brown, Markus Bodenseh, Barbara Burkle, Melva Houston, Barry Foley, and Derek James. Joe's repertoire includes jazz standards, blues, funk, latin, and contemporary styles. All of these styles can be heard on his debut CD, Funky Lizard which was released in 1999. His second CD, My Foolish Heart, was released in 2007. He is also an accomplished composer and intends to record his original compositions in 2008. Joe performs regularly with his trio in the Stuttgart area. His musical influences have been such greats as Oscar Peterson, Ellis Marsalis, Joe Sample, Cedar Walton, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis, Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Branford Marsalis, Etta James, and Sting.