"Good Gravy" as my friend and Americana musician, Joe Buchanan loves to say. This episode is for all the spiritual seekers out there. No matter your background or religion, there is always someplace out there that can become Home.
Joe and I met a few years ago at Limmud Atlanta ( think TED Talks but Jewish themed) where we were both guest presenters and ended our weekend with a massive porch jam session that lasted till late in the evening.
A Texas native, Joe Buchanan makes Jewish Americana music. Grounded in the idea that there is always room at the table, Joe's music highlights the values, Torah (the Bible), and history of the Jewish people to deliver stories steeped in the struggle and triumph of the human spirit, all while praising God for the goodness in life.
Raised with one foot in Houston and one in the Texas Hill Country, Joe grew up swinging off ropes on the Frio River and spending time like any kid - trying to figure out what was what. The biggest question was about Gd and despite a deep belief in a creator, he couldn't find much that he agreed with in what he was hearing. The struggle led to more struggles and he finally decided that he and Gd would sort it out later.
Then one day, about 13 years into his marriage, Joe found out that his wife was Jewish. Now, with the discovery of his wife's heritage, their family started down a path that would change everything and allow him to start living his purpose and passion as a musician.
His debut album, Unbroken, is filled with music that speaks to the incredible beauty of finding a home after a lifetime of searching. His follow up album, Back from Babylon is country like you remember it. Southern roots forward, stories that dig deep, and a little bit of honky-tonk. With inspiration from the Torah and his South Texas upbringing, Buchanan’s lyrics speak straight and true.
Check out his website loaded with music, tour dates and more:
https://joebuchananmusic.com/home
Download Unbroken on Amazon Music:
https://amzn.to/2tDDuWm
Download Back from Babylon on Amazon Music:
https://amzn.to/36G5Pd6
Learn more about Limmud International:
https://limmud.org
Limmud Miami:
https://www.miamilimmud.org
Limmud Atlanta:
https://limmudse.org/about/
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