Joseph Lorenzo Jr. Welbon (born May 9, 1963), known by the stage name Joe Smooth, is an American house music producer and DJ who gained international acclaim during the early 1980s.
In 1990 Joe Smooth opened the second iteration of The Warehouse with partners Julian Jumpin Perez and Rocky Jones of DJ International.
Joe Smooth gained international acclaim with the release of his late 1980s tracks "Promised Land" (featuring Anthony Thomas), "They Want to be Free," (featuring Joe Smooth on vocals) a song commissioned by CNN and Nelson Mandela's support team to be played in the background of his televised release from prison.
"[1] He is best known for "Promised Land," which is considered one of the top house records of all time and spoke of how humans, as brothers and sisters, should unite in love and thrive in paradise.
While the focus is on mainstream areas of the industry, Indie Art Music developed and worked with new artists like Amy DB of Chicago, Greg Tanoose of Austin, among others.
Notable artists he has worked with include Bros, Whitney Houston, Donnell Jones, Destiny's Child, Sisqó, Frankie Knuckles, Marshall Jefferson, A Guy Called Gerald, Lil Louis, D'Bora, Tyree Cooper, Fast Eddie, Fingers Inc., Art of Noise, Sterling Void, Pet Shop Boys, Janet Jackson, the Style Council, New Order, and Steve Hurley.