Michael Cassidy

He got the idea to play music when he was nine. At a wedding reception, he saw a guitarist playing “Walk, Don’t Run” on a candy-apple red Gretsch. “If the desire in my heart to play music was the fuel, then that red Gretsch was the spark,” Michael says. He’s been playing and writing music ever since.

Early-on he liked the surfing sounds of Dwayne Eddy, the Ventures, and the Safaris. Later his tastes expanded to the finger-styles of Charlie Byrd, Jose Feliciano, and Carlos Jobim. “My Dad’s record collection was mostly jazz and standards from his own generation. Hearing that music influenced the melodic and harmonic aspects of my composition. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Leonard Cohen inspired me to express myself with words.”

Michael Cassidy

In 1971, Michael became an initiated disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the renowned scholar who translated Bhagavad-gita As It Is, the jewel of India’s spiritual wisdom. The combination of studying the teachings of bhakti-yoga and practicing the disciplines became a continuous source of inspiration and enlightenment for Michael. He had the opportunity to debut his first indie release, A Change of Heart, in an intimate meeting with his spiritual teacher in 1975. His guru was very pleased and blessed the project. A Change of Heart was released in 1976 followed by four more albums between ‘77 and ‘85.

After raising his family, Michael came back to his love for writing and singing originals with a new album (Trying to Connect with You) and tour in 2002. He formed a duo with Joie Frye, and they began touring as Average Soul in 2003.

Joie Frye

Joie Frye [Yamini] was born on April 8th, 1951 in Stamford, CT, She was happily the youngest of four children with parents who were serious choral singers. They instilled in her a love of music at an early age. She began playing piano at seven, and while growing up, honed her harmony skills singing 60’s folk-rock with her sisters. During her high school years in New Jersey, Joie was inspired to become a performer after hearing the voice and piano of Laura Nyro, a NY-based singer-songwriter.

Upon taking spiritual initiation from A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in 1971, Joie read her teacher’s book Krishna, a summary study of Srimad Bhagavatam (“The Beautiful Story of the Personality of Godhead”). She retold these histories in simplified form as songs for children (Krishna Pastimes, 1996). Her recent return to school for a music/English degree included writing and recording 14 original songs with lyrics again derived from the bhakti-yoga wisdom tradition—Bhagavad-gita As It Is.

Presently, Joie sings harmony and plays keyboard in her duo, Average Soul.