Coming from a Southern West Virginia coal mining town, Joey had very few options to escape the coal mine. At 9 years old he was mesmerized by his uncle John "Nub" Ferris  who learned to play guitar while in the army. Joey began to learn the country blues style right away and was performing live with his own band by the age of 14. Traveling all over the country to perform in bars and beer joints for enough money to continue chasing his dream of music.