Joel Holmes was born in 1982, in the United States and began his career in 1996. He began teaching himself tunes by ear at age 10 and began playing with local bands and in church. Joel attended the Baltimore School for the Performing Arts High School and later, Joel Holmes became the Director of Jazz at his alma mater. He attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music at John Hopkins University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance.
Over the years, Joel has received numerous honors including four Grammy Nominations, a gold medal in the Act-so competition of the NAACP, and honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, a finalist in the fifth annual Independent Music Awards and an honorable mention in the VH1 Song of the Year Awards.
Joel has toured the world with Grammy winning jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, vocalist Nnenna Freelon, Saxophonist Javon Jackson. 
Currently Joel is playing in Carl Craig’s Versus Synthesizer Ensemble playing live Techno Music. Joel Holmes has performed in solo, duos and with his trios touring around North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
Joel Holmes has played with Curtis Fuller, Terrace Blanchard, Gary Thomas, Jimmy Cobb, Roberta Gambarini, Azar Lawrence, Tim Warfield, Greg Osby, Tim Green, Butch Warren, Reggie Workman, Cecil Mcbee and many more.
With such a diverse educational and performing background, it is no surprise that his music blends so many styles and influences including Contemporary Jazz, Gospel, Funk, R&B, Electronic and House Music.