Biography
Joel Pedraza Atkinson (AKA-Joelito) comes from a long line of musicians. Joel is one of six sons of the late Efrain R. Atkinson. Efrain was a Bass player and Vocalist for the group “El Conjunto, Los Hermanos Atkinson” and began playing and touring in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana area beginning in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
El Conjunto, Los Hermanos Atkinson opened for many touring Texas Acts such
as Ruben Vela, Los Cuatitos Cantu, Los Pavos Reales, Flaco Jimenez and many
more. Efrain R. Atkinson also formed and was the Lead Vocalist for
El Conjunto “La Sorpresa” for many years in the 80’s and
90’s. Joel is the nephew of Gilberto Evans Atkinson of Adrian, Michigan
founder of several Orchestas and Conjuntos in Michigan. Joel is the
cousin of Herbey Atkinson, founder and Lead Vocalist of the “La Nueva
Onda Band” of Adrian, Michigan.
Joel began his musical career as a drummer in the late 1960’s for the Conjunto, “Juan Garcia y Sus Tres Ases” of Adrian, Michigan. As a teenager the Conjunto sound and beat was easily engrained into his blood. However, in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, while attending the University of Utah, Joel joined the fast rising, country music scene in Salt Lake City, Utah as a Bass Player for the country band, High Sierra Winds.
Joel was instrumental in keeping the Conjunto/Chicano sound alive and well in Salt Lake City, Utah. Joel assisted and compiled the radio programming music of Conjunto/Orchesta music on FM Station KBBX radio in Salt Lake City, Utah on the popular Saturday morning show, “Radio Caliente” for many years.
After a brief stint in Boise, Idaho, Joel has now made Austin his home. Besides the music that runs through his veins, Joel has now brought out the visual images of his camera work for others to view.
Joel was involved with KQ Hot Tejano 92.1 as a photographer “Of the Tejano/Conjunto Stars”. His photos have documented many concerts in the Austin, San Antonio area for the last seven years. Joel was able to hone his craft of photography as a supplemental events photographer for the Austin Police Department.
(W.I.S.I.W.Y.G)
Joel has been photographing professionally for the last 5 years. Joel’s
photography work can be seen on a number of local Austin Bands Web Sites,
such as Los Pinkys, Greezy Wheels, Gina Lee and her Texas Three and more.
Joel’s photography has been published in several local magazines and articles in Austin. He has also been a contributing photographer for the “La Onda Entertainment” Newspaper of Michigan, Houston’s Tejano Entertainment Guide of Houston, Texas and others.
To this date Joel as founder of (“What I See Is What You Get”-W.I.S.I.W.Y.G.
Photography) is still photographing up and coming stars in the live music
scene in Austin and surrounding areas! Joel has been fortunate to photograph
Grammy Award Winners, Ruben Ramos, Flaco Jimenez, Jimmy Gonzales and more!
Joel has also done photo shoots at weddings, quinceneras, birthday parties
and special events.
