Joel Gonzalez, aka Mega, has been involved with music since he was very young. Growing up in Hartford, CT he was exposed to a variety of music that included jazz, salsa, R&B, latin jazz, and hip-hop. In his 20 years playing gigs and recording he's shared the stage and/or recorded with: Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Terrell Stafford, Brian Lynch, Ryan Leslie, Talib kweli, Hi-tek, India Arie, Kanye West, Shaggy, Jaden, Honey LaRochelle, and Anthony Hamilton.

In 2001, his second year at Berklee, Mega was introduced to Lifted by then saxophonist Dante Hawthorne. Dante and Joel were in a couple of projects together and naturally Dante brought him along for Lifted. This is the time that he was introduced to Joey Bagadeez, Miami Geis, and Mr. AT. Once in the band, the synergy was apparent and Joel has been in the band since.

By the time Lifted moved to New York in the summer of 2005 Joel had become band leader, musical director, songwriter, and booking agent. Filling multiple roles proved challenging but Mega was up for it, he always knew that the music created was something special and was built on the foundation of the friendships in the band. In it's new incarnation, Lifted Crew's strength is drawn from the genuine friendship and loyalty that fuels its musicianship. Over the years the some of these faces have changed, but the bond shared within the ensemble is a blessing from above.

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