User:Jsulli3944/sandbox

Joseph Michael Sullivan

Born on May 28, 1951 at Manhattan Hospital, New York City, Joseph Sullivan lived in Astoria, Queens, until age 14. He attended Immaculate Conception School and moved to Monroe, New York in 1965. He graduated from John S. Burke Catholic High School in 1969 where he had ran on the Track and Field team for four years. Joseph was involved in acting roles in two high school productions. At age 18 he moved to Riverdale to attend Manhattan College in the Bronx, where he lived for four years. At Manhattan College he ran Track during his freshman year, created "The People Free Coffeehouse" in the Plato's Cave Café on campus, and was President of the Film Club for three years. In addition, Sullivan had a campus radio show for two years. His interest in music grew at Manhattan College where he learned how to play acoustic guitar during his first semester. The coffeehouse at Manhattan College led to many interesting contacts, such as; Bert Sommer, from the cast of HAIR, and David Peale, an eventual background singer in the Plastic Ono Band. Sullivan has penned songs and performed in the city and later in Orange County in upstate New York. Following college graduation he began teaching locally in Monroe, N.Y. for the next six years. During that period he also attended and graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Arts in Communications in 1976. Sullivan started working closely with various local musicians and formed, ORANGE SUNSHINE CONCERTS. This new company produced a number of concerts in the Orange County area. Performers affiliated with his efforts included, The James Cotton Blues Band, Leslie West, from the rock band MOUNTAIN, Orleans, and many local performers and groups. From 1973 through 1979 Orange Sunshine Concerts presented an annual free concert that entertained thousands of young people. June 30, 1979 was the final free concert of his music production company. Five days later he relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana until 1982. He moved to Baton Rouge the summer of 1982 and has made his home there. In 1989 Sullivan performed regularly at the former Tony's Tavern in Baton Rouge. His collaborations led to the formation of BLEECKER STREET, a folk rock band. The group performed from 1990 through 2002. Sullivan played bass for GUNSMOKE from 2004 to 2009. Sullivan led various incarnations of BLEECKER STREET from 2011 through 2013.

While in Lafayette, Saint Martinville, and Baton Rouge he continued to teach. In 1980 and 1981 Sullivan was the Track Coach for Fatima High School that captured two Louisiana State Championships. In 1985 Sullivan graduated from Louisiana State University with a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration. He became an Assistant Principal, Principal and Transportation Supervisor through July 2014. He is currently retired from educational administration. Sullivan continues to write songs and perform musically. In addition, Sullivan has been involved in promoting Irish culture with The Baton Rouge Irish Club. He served as President of the organization for two periods: 2007 to 2010 and 2013 through 2014.

Joseph Sullivan was the fourth child of Maryann "Maureen" Sweeney from Dublin, Ireland, and Joseph David Sullivan, from Kings Cove, Newfoundland. His siblings are Maureen, Robert and Rita. All siblings are married and now have adult children and many grandchildren in their family. Sullivan married Dorothy Landry from Crowley, Louisiana on June 25, 1983. Their son Ryan was born on September 14, 1984. Their daughter Bridget was born on June 9, 1988.