Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Joseph performs his original song “Gnarly Knees” live at Sing Sing prison in 2017.
“Joseph's songs echo modern day marches... he word-places in a way that you can fully grasp that we all need to change.
It's so important to understand that he learned how to play music on a paper piano. Just reading a theory book and going from chapter to chapter and learning how to put chords together and harmonies and rhythm. He would sit in a cell using a paper piano and write out music. And this is one of the songs that came out of him learning in that way. — Alfred, a friend of Joseph, on “Gnarly Knees”
Watch more videos on the “Reimagining Change” playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6on-dqI0232jxyI49DVvPua-7-RyoHdx
In 2026, Carnegie Hall celebrates the 15th anniversary of Musical Connections by releasing Sing Sing Voices, a series of three video playlists that feature original music created by men incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum‑security prison in New York. Shared publicly for the first time, the project includes nearly 50 songs written and performed during the longstanding residency in collaboration with Carnegie Hall teaching artists. Highlighting the creativity and humanity fostered through music, Grammy Award winners Common, Joyce DiDonato, and Arturo O’Farrill each introduce a playlist.
Learn more about Sing Sing Voices: carnegiehall.org/SingSingVoices
Performers:
Joseph, Vocals
Marvin, Vocals
Kevin, Vocals
Alfred, Vocals
Gary, Vocals
Kenyatta, Vocals
Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Vocals
Camila Meza, Guitar and Vocals
Jason Marshall, Tenor Saxophone
Amun, Bass
Matt Moran, Vibraphone
Shadrich, Drums
Musical Connections is a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.
Joseph performs his original song “Gnarly Knees” live at Sing Sing prison in 2017.
“Joseph's songs echo modern day marches... he word-places in a way that you can fully grasp that we all need to change.
It's so important to understand that he learned how to play music on a paper piano. Just reading a theory book and going from chapter to chapter and learning how to put chords together and harmonies and rhythm. He would sit in a cell using a paper piano and write out music. And this is one of the songs that came out of him learning in that way. — Alfred, a friend of Joseph, on “Gnarly Knees”
Watch more videos on the “Reimagining Change” playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6on-dqI0232jxyI49DVvPua-7-RyoHdx
In 2026, Carnegie Hall celebrates the 15th anniversary of Musical Connections by releasing Sing Sing Voices, a series of three video playlists that feature original music created by men incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum‑security prison in New York. Shared publicly for the first time, the project includes nearly 50 songs written and performed during the longstanding residency in collaboration with Carnegie Hall teaching artists. Highlighting the creativity and humanity fostered through music, Grammy Award winners Common, Joyce DiDonato, and Arturo O’Farrill each introduce a playlist.
Learn more about Sing Sing Voices: carnegiehall.org/SingSingVoices
Performers:
Joseph, Vocals
Marvin, Vocals
Kevin, Vocals
Alfred, Vocals
Gary, Vocals
Kenyatta, Vocals
Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Vocals
Camila Meza, Guitar and Vocals
Jason Marshall, Tenor Saxophone
Amun, Bass
Matt Moran, Vibraphone
Shadrich, Drums
Musical Connections is a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.
