Age: 70
Birth Place: Sweet Yellow Corn, Mississippi

Joe Willie was born in Sweet Yellow Corn, Mississippi. At the time of his birth, the local hospital was closed, so he was born in a manger in a farmhouse of a family friend known only as "Suga". After living a hardscramble life of barnstorming, odd jobs, and singing for the Lord, Joe invested his entire lifesavings in a one-way Greyhound bus ticket to his promised land, Macon, Georgia, where he has been ever since. After arriving in Macon, Joe Willie began answering his calling from his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He auditioned for the Jackson Southernaires, the James Cleveland choir, the 6 Blind and Deaf Boys of Decatur and several more, all to no avail. The Most High then gave Joe a sign that he was indeed walking in the steps divinely ordered for him and he has chosen as second alternate for The Whispers.

Shortly afterwards, Joe Willie received a sign that could not be ignored. What he first thought was food poisoning from a bad piece of catfish was in fact his call to give up trying out for other groups and form his own ensemble. Being an obedient follower of Our Heavenly Father, Joe set down his bottle of Pepto-Bismal and formed Joe Willie and the Deuteronomaires.

In fact, just to show you how He blesses us when we believe, after forming his new group, Joe received a call from John P. Key and they recorded a duet, which was never released and is very hard to find.

Since putting together the Deuteronomaires, Joe has not looked back spreading the gospel to all corners.

Joe has a 35 year old son, that he sees every so often and was once married to Jean Carne's cousin. Although they are not together, they still think about each other.