Throughout, Arias has collaborated with some of the biggest names in entertainment, while always pushing to reinvent himself and remain ahead of the mainstream. He likes to, as he says, “keep it a little strange.”

Writing about the 2019 acquisition by Harvard’s Houghton Library of Arias’s archives, Anna Burgess of Harvard Library Communications notes, “Arias got into drag in an era when it was still primarily underground, and the venues he played were small nightclubs in progressive cities like New York and Berlin… Thirty years later, Arias was on Broadway, his show advertised with dazzling full-color posters instead of grainy photocopies.”

In addition to his work as a performance artist, Arias is also a celebrated singer and musician, noted for his powerful voice. His vocal instrument exudes a rare blend of sensuality, vulnerability, and raw power that transcends the boundaries of genre. Although he was signed to Capitol Records in his teens in Los Angeles, in typical Joey fashion he dropped out of the contract in order to head out to the wild and burgeoning scene of New York City with his complete artistic freedom intact.

Today, Joey remains the ultimate guardian of the avant-garde, playing shows with his jazz ensemble in the US and Europe. His newest album, “Past. Present. Future.” will debut on Beige Records on October 31st. Look for him performing live this fall in a city near you!