Joseph Mayes was self-taught until 1963 when he began his studies
with Mr. Peter Colona at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. In 1968,
after three years in the army, Mr. Mayes was given an invitational scholarship
by the government of Spain to study with the internationally-renowned concert
guitarist Andres Segovia. Mayes holds degrees in guitar from Thomas Edison
College of Trenton, New Jersey, and Shenandoah University of Winchester,
Virginia. Since 1972, Mr. Mayes has been on the faculty of Rowan University
where he teaches Guitar, lute, vihuela da mano, and mandolin. His CD recordings
span the complete range of the enormous repertoire for the guitar and lute. His
latest CD is a collection of music for two guitars and two renaissance lutes,
entitled "Romance" performed with his wife, Kathleen Mayes – The Mayes Guitar
Duo. In 2010, the Mayes Guitar Duo appeared in Carnegie Hall where they debuted
a song-cycle, written for the duo by Roger Hudson, based on the sayings of Yogi
Bera, “Shenandoah” written for the duo by Howard Vance, and “On the Heath” a
renaissance lute duet composed for the duo by Ronn McFarlane. Mayes’ many
publications of transcriptions and arrangements have been published by Mel Bay,
inc. Plucked String Publishing, Creative Guitar International, Galvanized Music,
and Clear Note Publications. His reviews are published regularly in
“Soundboard,” the organ of the Guitar Foundation of America.