Mendelson Joe

Mendelson Joe
Born
Birrel Josef Mendelson

(1944-07-30)July 30, 1944
Maple, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 7, 2023(2023-02-07) (aged 78)
Emsdale, Ontario, Canada
EducationBA University of Toronto
Known forSinger-songwriter, guitarist, painter

Birrel Josef Mendelson (July 30, 1944 – February 7, 2023), known as Mendelson Joe, was a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, painter, and political activist, who was known for using his art to express political themes.[1][2][3] Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario and then moving to Maple, Ontario at age 13. He attended University of Toronto, graduating with a B.A. in arts, 1966.[4]

Joe was the nephew of Ruth Eisenberg, "Ivory" of Ebony and Ivory. He died by assisted suicide on February 7, 2023, at the age of 78.[5][6]

  1. ^ Entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia
  2. ^ Roy MacGregor, "A master of the art calls on Canadians to protest" with photos of artwork The Globe and Mail, Toronto, Ontario (June 15, 2010) Retrieved December 26, 2010
  3. ^ Anthony Jenkins, "Mendelson Joe on Omar Khadr" The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 26, 2010
  4. ^ Joe, Mendelson, as told to Halim, Nadia. Alien: The Strange Life and Times of Mendelson Joe (Toronto, ECW Press, 2000) ISBN 1-55022-426-3
  5. ^ Slingerland, Calum. "Mendelson Joe, Canadian Singer-Songwriter, Visual Artist and Activist, Dies at 78 | Exclaim!". exclaim.ca.
  6. ^ "Longtime artist Mendelson Joe dies at 78 after living with Parkinson's disease". CBC. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2024.