He grew up in Pittsburgh and moved to Florida to attend the University of Central Florida on a football scholarship. Leaving school, he formed Average Joe in 1992. As of 1995, it also included bassist Reggie Ingram and reed and keyboard player Steve Skinner. By 1996, still a trio, it consisted of Keliikipi, Ingram, and either Fitzroy Harris or Wayne Charles on drums. Average Joe released two albums on its own labels, Music For Everyone (1995) and Unsigned & Fine (1996). The group was selected by Musician magazine in 1997 as one of the 25 best unsigned bands in the U.S., and it was chosen to play at the Orlando stop on the H.O.R.D.E. tour. In 1999, Average Joe changed its name to the Joseph Gray Band to avoid confusion with another group with the same name. (Its website is www.avgjoe.com.) ~ William Ruhlmann