Joe Giles: Man Of Many Hats

Joe Giles is a man who has worn a lot of hats -- literally and figuratively -- throughout his lifetime.

Most notably, the hat he's most known for is the one he wears as the executive director of Bikes, Blues and Barbecue -- one of the biggest charity motorcycle rallies in the United States hosted in Fayetteville.

Recently, at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Giles (who is 64 and lives in Prairie Grove) wore a different hat, literally -- a black fedora. He was busy working as the frontman of his long running blues and classic rock band, Joe Giles and the Homewreckers.

The band was playing George's famous Friday happy hour -- actually happy hours, from 6 to 8 p.m. There wasn't a person under 35 in sight, but the crowd acted as young as any crowd an act like The Floozies might bring in. Giles was front and center on the big garden-room stage, movin' to the groovin' and clapping along to the beat while his band played Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music."

The song had everyone up on the dance floor. While strutting around the stage with jaunty energy as he sang the song, the big chorus came, and Giles shouted out, "Play that funky music, whiiiite boy -- that's me!"

The crowd pumped their fists, hooted and hollered and danced with their sweethearts like they were teenagers again.

The entertainer hat is something Giles has worn his entire life, and it was easy to see how comfortable he was at the center of attention. It's something he's done for 50 years, whether on stage or in a classroom. Before he was organizing Bikes, Blues and BBQ and fronting the Homewreckers, he was a public school teacher for 16 years, an elementary school principal for 12 years, a volunteer football and soccer coach, farmer and even a radio DJ for two months.