Joe Coughlin played percussion in school combos and a string of garage bands then, in his mid-teens, switched from drums to lead vocals, and by the late 70's, after finishing high school, was busy playing Ontario bars and clubs with his own heavy metal band, Whiteheet.

In 1979, he won CBC's "Search for the Stars" and scored a record deal, releasing a debut album in 1981 "Joe Coughlin" featuring the great Canadian rhythm-section of Ed Bickert (guitar), Don Thompson (bass), and Terry Clarke (drums), with Bernie Senensky on piano and Marty Morrell on percussion.

A follow-up "Second Debut", placed him back in Bickert's company, this time with the trio of Mark Eisenman and Kirk McDonald on tenor sax.

After a late '80's / early '90's other-media interlude of some series hosting for TV, and a couple of top ten adult contemporary singles, he released "Third Accession" - again with Mark's trio, but this time with Lorne Lofsky on guitar, and a front line of Alex Dean on tenor & flute and Mike Malone on trumpet & flugel.

In 1995, Joe moved to BC and quietly began the second stage of his jazz evolution.

"Simple Pleasures"- shared between Eisenman's Toronto trio and the west-coast union of Pat Coleman on guitar & Ken Lister on bass with contributions from Ross Taggart on tenor & piano - earned him the National Jazz Award for "Male Vocalist on the Year" in 2000.

October 23, 2007 sees the release of his 5th and finest album, "Things Turn Out That Way", a deftly chosen mix of revitalized classics and brand new standards performed with the rhythm section of Tony Genge, Ken Lister and Buff Allen. Bill Runge plays sax & flute and Mike Herriott trumpet & flugel. Pat Coleman and Rick Salt add a sparkling crisp production.

Joe Coughlin is the winner of the 2008 National Jazz Award for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Joe Coughlin is the winner