Raney, Joel

JOEL RANEY (b. 1956) is the newest editor to join the Creative Team at Hope Publishing Company. Joel began playing piano at age three, born to a musical family in Alabama. He studied piano and organ at the University of North Alabama, and later received his Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School of Music in piano performance. Joel resides in River Forest, IL, with his wife, Susie, and their three sons, Charlie, Sawyer and Jesse. Joel's career in music began in the Southern Baptist Church, but also includes work in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago in both theater and jazz performance. He currently makes his living writing and arranging music for radio and television commercials in his own Chicago-based production company and studio, CATFISH. Joel serves as Worship Pianist at the First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, IL. His love for the "old gospel hymns" brought about the publication of his solo piano book and recording, AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE. (Hope Code No. 1952). The CD of this collection is Code No. 1953.


 Joel is a gifted concert pianist and has joined forces with Jane Holstein for a series of duo-concerts featuring the piano and organ in an innovative keyboard excursion, exploring a variety of styles in sacred and classical music. Joel is the creative force behind this team, arranging for the two instruments, and they now have a half a dozen such products available from Hope Publishing Company.