Joe was born 21 January 1967 in Dundee, Scotland to Joseph and Joyce (Christie) McGrath.

He moved to Islington, London as a young teenager and attended Islington Green School leaving at the first opportunity to pursue a music career.

He was a natural and talented musician and sound engineer with an encyclopedic knowledge of musical instruments, recording and live sound equipment, recording artists and their work.

Joe first came to the US at age 17 to tour with his first band and lived for some time in NYC and LA. While in LA he had the honor of meeting and being mentored by the late great Frank Zappa whose music and teachings molded his path forward.

Upon his return to the UK he went to work at Vaughan Studios in North London as a sound engineer and producer which led to him working with many up and coming bands including Rat Pack where he was instrumental in engineering and producing their first hit “Searchin’ for My Rizla” and later “Captain of the Ship”. He derived great pleasure in the fact that Rizla was banned from the BBC1 playlist which resulted in it becoming a massive hit.

During this time, he also entered the underground techno/rave scene as Controller 7 playing live at massive raves and clubs throughout the UK. Up until his death he was still receiving messages from younger generations of fans who discovered “old skool” techno which he thought was hilarious but also proud that his work was still considered “banging”.

From there he returned to his first love of playing bass guitar and joined Deviant Hearts, writing and producing with his great friend Dave Gebey until leaving the UK with Renee for Cuba Lake to care for her father in his final years.

While in WNY he continued to add to his guitar and bass collection and although he played nearly every day, he never joined another live band. He was able to meet his favorite musician of all time though when Bert Jansch played in Buffalo and spent hours with him after his gig talking about music, mutual friends, the history and music of Pentangle and the seemingly million different ways of tuning a guitar to get the exact sound you are looking for.

Joe is survived by Renee Congdon whom he met on his birthday in 1996 in the Hope & Anchor in Islington over a pint or two of Guinness. They were a constant presence in each other’s lives from that day forward for the next 26 years.

Joe is also survived by his father Joseph (Diane) McGrath, whom he inherited his musical talent from, was his best friend, made him the best breakfasts, passed on his cooking abilities and introduced him to, among other things, lunching at Michelin starred restaurants; his siblings Alan (Holly) McGrath, Cassie (Eddie) Lafferty, Jessica (Callum) McGrath, Max McGrath, 5 nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and 3 rescue cats Fred, Dude and Sweet.

He was predeceased by his mother and stepfather Joyce McGrath and Robert Laing.

Joe had many adventures connected to music throughout his life and no matter where he went in the UK he always ran into someone who knew him for one of his projects, bands and/or music. He was a kind and gentle soul with a quick wit and upbeat look on life and people and he will be sorely missed by those who knew him best.

At Joe’s request there were no services.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., Cuba.