Born in Sayreville, New Jersey, Dr. Joey Colarusso moved to Arlington, Texas at the age of six. He began playing the saxophone in the seventh grade and has been hooked on music since. After graduating from Arlington High School, he moved to Austin and immediately fell in love with the city’s vibrant music community. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned his Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in saxophone performance with jazz emphasis. Throughout his college years and beyond, Joey maintained a rigorous schedule teaching classical and jazz saxophone to students of all ages. Prior to his recent onboarding at Austin Community College, Joey has served on the music faculties of Texas State University, Emory & Henry College, St. Edward’s University and Prairie View A&M University.

Able to play across multiple styles and genres as a saxophonist and woodwind doubler, Joey has performed and/or recorded with numerous local, national and international artists including Peggy Stern, Dale Watson, The Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera, The San Antonio Symphony, The Fort Worth Symphony, The Nova Saxophone Quartet, Gino Vannelli, Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, Kenny Rogers, Natalie Cole, Ronnie Spector, Dick Dale, Olivia Newton John, 10000 Maniacs, Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, Manhattan Transfer, Frank Sinatra Jr., The Guy Lombardo Orchestra, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Mike Stern, Bob Brookmeyer, Eddie Daniels, Conrad Herwig, Bernadette Peters, Grupo Fantasma, Little Joe y la Familia, The Tony Campise Big Band, The King William Jazz Collective and The United States Air Education Training and Command Band from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

Since 2019, Joey has been performing and recording with ten-time Grammy-winning artists, Asleep at the Wheel. For over fifty years, Asleep at the Wheel has been bringing western swing, classic country, boogie- woogie and cosmic cowboy music to fans all over the world. In August of 2025, the band was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Shortly thereafter, the Wheel released its latest album, Riding High in Texas.

Joey enjoys forging lasting relationships with other musicians on the bandstand and in the classroom, and he is very excited to be joining the faculty and serving the students at Austin Community College! He lives in Buda with his beautiful wife, Xochitl, and amazing daughters, Xoey and Lila.