My journey in music began onstage as a senior in high school, guitar in hand, playing for a production of the Broadway hit Damn Yankees. That early taste of live performance lit a spark that would grow into a lifelong passion for both performing and teaching music.

While studying in college, I joined a blues band and quickly discovered how much I loved collaborating and sharing music with others. In 1975, I took my first teaching job at Farrington’s Music Center in Princeton, NJ, working with school-age students to help them read music and play guitar with confidence. I was hooked—and I’ve been teaching ever since.

From there, my path took me to New York City, where I balanced a busy schedule of private guitar and voice lessons with live gigs at iconic venues like Max’s Kansas City and CBGB’s. I’ve performed in clubs, major hotels, and even for military audiences while fronting my own band in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

and Paragon Music. I also launched my own group, Joe Mac and the Paradise Blues Band, which became a local favorite at festivals, clubs, and city-sponsored events.

In 1994, I had the unique opportunity to serve as the orchestral guitarist on Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas, which opened the door to nearly a decade of performances with Broadway show touring companies across Florida. I’ve had the privilege of playing with productions like Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, and The Bernadette Peters Show at prestigious venues such as Ruth Eckerd Hall, Tampa Bay Center for the Performing Arts, and more.

In 2001, I served as Musical Director and guitarist for a Tampa production of HAIR with MAD (Music, Art & Dance Company). Around that time, I founded Ace Guitar and Vocal Music Studio and RockShop Band School in St. Petersburg, Florida—where I continue to teach today.

With decades of real-world experience on stage and in the studio, I’m passionate about helping students of all ages grow as confident, capable musicians—whether you’re picking up a guitar for the first time, refining your vocal technique, or looking to join a band and perform.