Joel Barker

Joel Barker is a poet, as well as a computer programmer and general technical go-to person, currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He is an important member of the Portland, Oregon community. He is currently the President of the Board of Directors of Ethos, Inc, a non-profit music education program. He is also a regular member and participant in the annual Portland Soap Box Derby. He is also a key player in the continuing development and expansion of Barker MusicAL INSTRUMENTS, Inc.

Joel Byron Barker was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 16, 1975 to father George Brentwood Lee Barker, and mother Diana Marie Barker. He was preceeded in birth by his older brother, Guy Brentwood Barker (later changed to Peter Guy Brentwood Barker).

Joel and his family moved to Bend, Oregon soon after his birth, where they resided for three years until they moved to Redmond, Oregon, where Joel remained until 1993, when he dropped out of Redmond High School. He got his General Equivalency Degree and soon left for Ashland, Oregon where he attended Southern Oregon State College (which has since been renamed to Southern Oregon University.)

After graduating from college in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Joel remained in Ashland, working for the City of Ashland. It was at this time that he began writing more frequently and began receiving accolades for his origninal poetry, which he delivered in an innovative style which he referred to as "Whitey Skat."

In 2001, Joel left Ashland for Portland, Oregon, where he continues to reside. He has a Chihuaha named Torito, and is a regular caretaker for foster dogs. He remains a mainstay on the Portland social scene. He appears weekly at The Greasy Spuhn Cafe as a featured speaker and open mic host.

Joel is known worldwide for his poetry, which has been published internationally. His first published writings appeared in The Westwind Review, where he received the acclaimed "Golden Turtleneck" award for best new author. He has also appeared in Harper's and the New Yorker.