Long was a classically trained musician who studied with Alfonse Strazza, the principal bassist for the New York Philharmonic. However, a severe hand injury forced Joe to give up the rigors of playing classical bass and switch to the Fender bass guitar. He then began listening more to rock and roll music and became a bass player for several local New Jersey rock bands before joining the Four Seasons in 1965.
Long was a musician who studied with Alfonse Strazza, the principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic. A severe hand injury forced him to switch from classical bass to the Fender bass guitar and later become a rock bassist for several local New Jersey bands before joining the Four Seasons in 1965.