Joey Spampinato
As the melodic bassist and sweet-voiced singer for NRBQ, he helped craft the band's uniquely joyful and omnivorous blend of rock, pop, and American roots music.
Born 1948 (age 78)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: August 16·Baby Boomers
Biography
Joey Spampinato was the warm, steady center of the eclectic rock band NRBQ, a group beloved for its virtuosic playfulness and deep musical knowledge. Joining founders Terry Adams and Steve Ferguson early on, Spampinato provided more than just inventive bass lines; he brought a pure, melodic voice and a knack for writing concise, charming pop songs like "Me and the Boys" and "Ridin' in My Car." His style pulled from the melodic invention of Paul McCartney and the rhythmic pocket of soul and rockabilly, giving NRBQ's often frenetic explorations a grounded, accessible heart. For over three decades, he was a fixture on stage, his cheerful presence and musical versatility a key ingredient in the band's legendary live reputation. While NRBQ never chased mainstream trends, Spampinato's contributions ensured their music was always anchored in timeless songcraft, earning them a fervent, cult following that revered the band as a national treasure.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Joey was born in 1948, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1948
#1 Movie
The Red Shoes
Best Picture
Hamlet
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Joey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1948Born
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1953Started school
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1961Became a teenager
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Could drive
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1966Could vote
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1969Turned 21
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Turned 30
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 40
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 50
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 60
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 70
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 78 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a founding member, bassist, and lead vocalist for the eclectic rock band NRBQ for over 30 years.
- Wrote or co-wrote many of NRBQ's signature songs, including "Me and the Boys," "I Want You Bad," and "Ridin' in My Car."
- Played on and contributed to nearly every NRBQ studio album from their self-titled 1969 debut through the 1990s.
Did You Know?
On NRBQ's early albums, he was credited as 'Jody St. Nicholas.'
He is married to singer-songwriter Kami Lyle.
He played bass on several recordings for other artists, including tracks for Keith Richards and Bonnie Raitt.
“We just wanted to play all the music we loved.”
