Although raised in the northeast, he took a very early interest in bluegrass music, prompted chiefly by hearing Bill Monroe on radio and records.
Joe helped blaze the trail for Boston's folk and bluegrass scene with the Lilly Brothers in the early '60s, and later surrounded himself with the cream of that city's musical crop including Joan Baez, The Charles River Valley Boys, banjo legends Don Stover and Bill Keith, Jim Rooney, and the less well-known members of the New England Bluegrass Boys (most notably a relatively unknown guitarist and singer, Dave Dillon).
Joe honed his skills as he played with several bands including the Radio Rangers, the Berkshire Mountain Boys and The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover.
In both instances, he comfortably accommodated contemporary shifts in bluegrass but never lost his preference for the traditional form of the music.
Just when Joe Val made the decision to finally make touring a full-time occupation, he learned that he was suffering from Lymphoma.
Two major fundraising benefits were held to help defray medical costs and household bills while Joe was ill and unable to work.
The first benefit concert was organized in November 1984 by Len Domler (The Sounding Board Coffeehouse) and Kevin Lynch in West Hartford, CT.
The Johnson Mountain Boys, Del & Jerry McCoury, Bob & Dan Paisley and Traver Hollow donated their time, expenses, and talents to entertain a sold-out theater crowd.
The second benefit, the Joe Val Benefit and Appreciation Day, on June 9, 1985 (two days before Joe died) was organized by the Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU), the now defunct North River Bluegrass Association (Cathy & Ted Howland and Linda Fitzpatrick) and many volunteers.
A full day and early evening of jams, workshops and concerts drew many familiar names and a large crowd.
He received calls, visits and countless cards & letters from fans and friends, as well as many of his peers in the music business.
The likes of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Ricky Skaggs, and several other notable figures from Joe's early days in the Boston area music scene, took the time to make personal hospital visits and phone calls.
His headstone is easily identifiable by an engraving of his 1923 Gibson 'Lloyd Loar' Mandolin, designed by Joe's devoted friend and bass player, Eric Levenson.
When the original "Joe Val Day" ceased operations on the Waltham Common, the Boston Bluegrass Union took the reins.