Music has been a central part of Joe Goldberg’s life from an early age, influenced by a musical household where his mother sang jazz standards and his father played guitar. After playing in his high school concert jazz band, Joe attended Florida State University, earning a Bachelor's degree in music alongside minors in physics and mathematics, and studying under renowned pianist Marcus Roberts, which expanded his skills on the alto saxophone and clarinet.
In 2012, Joe joined Roberts’ group, The Modern Jazz Generation, performing at the Lincoln Center and on the 2013 album Romance, Swing, and the Blues. He then lived in New Orleans from 2013–2020, collaborating with prominent local musicians.
From 2025-2026 Joe served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Jazz at Florida State University College of Music, directing ensembles and teaching classes. Active in performance, he was featured as a soloist on the Cincinnati Pops' 2026 album Harlem Renaissance, fronts the Joe Goldberg Quartet and Joe Goldberg & the Function, and performs with The Tallahassee Syncopators.
