==Music==
Gilbert founded and performs as lead singer of the band "Highway 61 Revisited", in tribute to Bob Dylan. His inspiration to become a professional musician can be attributed to a Bob Dylan album he received in high school in the mid-1980s. His foray into music began and his passion took hold as he taught himself to play Bob Dylan songs.<ref name="American Songwriter">{{cite news|last=Schlansky|first=Evan|title=An Extended Interview With Joel Gilbert|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2009/10/bob-dylans-shadow-an-extended-interview-with-joel-gilbert|newspaper=[ American Songwriter]]|date=August 1, 2005}}</ref>Gilbert sings and plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and harmonica in the band.<ref name="Isis Magazine">{{ cite news|last=Barker|first=Derek|title=How Does it Feel?|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/Press%20long%20HOW%20DOES%20IT%20FEEL.pdf|newspaper=[[]]|date=August 1, 2005}}</ref> Gilbert advertises his group as "The World's Only Bob Dylan' Tribute Show", and it features four of Bob Dylan's original band members.<ref name="Venue">{{cite news|last=Montgomery|first=Colin|title=On Highway 61|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/Venue%20article.pdf|newspaper=[[Venue]]|date=October 20, 2006}}</ref> These include Scarlet Rivera on violin, Rob Stoner on bass, Winston Watson on drums, and John Jackson on guitar. The group has toured in England <ref name="Bristol Evening Post">{{ cite news|last=Barker|first=Derek|title=Playing Tribute|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/Bristol%20Evening%20Post.pdf
|newspaper=[[Bristol Evening Post]]|date=October 26, 2006}}</ref>
and Ireland <ref name="Manchester Evening News">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Dreams of Dylan's Disciple|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/Press%20long%20DREAMS%20DISCIPLE.pdf|newspaper=[[]]|date=August 1, 2005}}</ref>as well as throughout the United States. The "Take No Prisoners Tour" consisted of performances at California State Prisons, including Folsom Prison, <ref name="San Francisco Chronicle">{{ cite news|last=Melley=Brian|title=Musicians Sing for Folsom Prison|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/Press%20long%20HOW%20DOES%20IT%20FEEL.pdf|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=September 19, 2004}}</ref>San Quentin State Prison, Norco, Chino, Delano, and Kern Valley State Prison.<ref name="Valley Press">{{ cite news|last=Lake=Heather|title=Tribute Band Gives Prisoners Show|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/folsom_FULL.pdf
|newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=September 19, 2004}}</ref>
The Band is highly acclaimed, Pete Howard wrote in Ice Magazine, "approached the Highway 61 Revisited show with a bit of skepticism, but was soon converted into a believer. Simply put, Joel Gilbert and his band absolutely nail it."<ref name="ICE">{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Pete|title=Highway 61 Re-Creates Dylan|url=http://www.highway61revisited.com/pdfs/Recreate_Dylan_FULL.pdf|newspaper=[[]]|date=August 1, 2005}}</ref>
In a review of Joel Gilbert's 2004 film, "Bob Dylan World Tours 1966–1974", Glide Magazine commented that Dylan's career during the nine years relevant to the film was "significant for any Bob Dylan fan." According to the same review, Gilbert is commended for his choice to portray the life of Dylan with greater authenticity through the lens of Dylan's chief photographer at the time, Barry Feinstein. It commended Gilbert saying "one must applaud Gilbert’s efforts and his love for music history. His passion for music in general is displayed in every scene." <ref name="Glide Magazine">{{ cite news|last=Gonulsen|first=Jason|title=Bob Dylan World Tours 1966-1974|url=http://highway61ent.com/bob-dylan-66-74-world-tours/glidemagazine.htm|newspaper=[Glide magazine]]|date=December 23, 2004}}</ref>
Scott Bauer of the Associated Press wrote, "Because he is such a Dylan fan, Gilbert is able to ferret out good information from his interview subjects." <ref name="AP">{{cite news|last=Bauer|first=Scott|title= Dylan DVD Deserves a Spot on the Shelf|url=http://highway61ent.com/bob-dylan-66-74-world-tours/ap.htm
|newspaper=[[AP]]|date=December 20, 2004}}</ref> Relix magazine noted "Gilbert's handiwork is extremely homespun, but entertaining and passionate."<ref name="Relix">{{ cite news|last=Jarnow|first=Jesse|title=Legends Bob Dylan World Tours 1966-1974|url=http://highway61ent.com/bob-dylan-66-74-world-tours/relixmagazine.htm|newspaper=[[Relix]]|date=April 2005}}</ref>
Gilbert's next film, Bob Dylan – 1975–1981 Rolling Thunder and The Gospel Years (2006), was received well by DVD Talk, who states the film "clock(s) in at a staggering four hours" and "questions an array of music biz types -- singers, studio musicians, record producers, critics, etc. -- about Bob Dylan's career from 1975 to 1981, a period in which he went from the ballyhooed Rolling Thunder concert tour to born-again Christianity." <ref>{{cite news|last=Bacharach|first=Phil|title=DVD review|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/20978/bob-dylan-1975-1981-rolling-thunder-and-the-gospel-years/|accessdate=December 23, 2012|newspaper=[[DVD Talk]]|date=April 3, 2006}}</ref> Pete Howard of Ice Magazine wrote "an exciting, fun and educational experience for anyone who appreciates Dylan's music." <ref name="Ice Magazine">{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Pete|title=Here Comes the Story of 1975-1981|url=http://highway61ent.com/Web_Rolling_Thunder/reviews.htm|newspaper=[[]]|date=August 21, 2006}}</ref>
"Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years: Busy Being Born Again", the next documentary in chronological order, directed by Gilbert in 2008, was credited by DVD Talk as an "examination of the period from 1978 to 1981 where Dylan shook off his Jewish heritage and became a born-again, Evangelical Christian." <ref>{{cite news|last=Bailey|first=Jason|title=DVD review: Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years: Busy Being Born Again|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/35110/inside-bob-dylans-jesus-years-busy-being-born-again/|accessdate=December 23, 2012|newspaper=[[DVD Talk]]|date=October 18, 2008}}</ref>The Washington Times wrote in "Taking Bob Dylan at Faith Value" noted this film "mines a period in Mr. Dylan’s career that is puzzled over, ignored or disdained by many fans: the three years, from 1979 to 1981, during which the rock icon devoted his recording and performing career to evangelical Christianity." <ref name="The Washington Times">{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Taking Bob Dylan at Faith Value|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/24/taking-bob-dylan-at-faith-value/|newspaper=[[The Washington Times]]|date=October 24, 2008}}</ref> Christianity Today wrote that the film "goes to great lengths to recreate that seminal period of Dylan's career and find some answers in it."<ref name="Christianity Today">{{cite news|last=Hurst|first=John|title=Inside Bob Dylan's Jesus Years|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/januaryweb-only/insidebobdylanjesusyears.html|newspaper=[Christianity Today]]|date=January 1, 2008}}</ref>
Gilbert's final Dylan documentary, Bob Dylan Never Ending Tour Diaries, featured Dylan's drummer Winston Watson and was called "the harsh world of rock reality" by moviehabit.com. They also wrote, "the presentation quality here is outstanding" referring to Gilbert's Dylan films they wrote, "Each successive release has been more revealing and more satisfying." <ref name="Newspaper">{{cite news|last=Anderson|first=Matt|title=Bob Dylan Never Ending Tour Diaries|url=https://www.moviehabit.com/review.php?story=bob_dh09|newspaper=[[Newspaper]]|date=April 8, 2009}}</ref> DVDfile wrote "Its appeal can't be underestimated."
===Dreams from My Real Father===
Gilbert's Dreams from My Real Father (2012) was presented as an alternative history to Barack Obama's autobiography, Dreams from My Father (1995).<ref name="American Thinker">{{cite news|last=Lipkes|first=Jeff|title=Frank Marshall Davis Jr? |url=https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2012/09/frank_marshall_davis_jr.html
|newspaper=[[ American Thinker]]|date=September 20, 2012}}</ref> The film presents evidence that Chicago Communist Party USA activist and former Soviet agent Frank Marshall Davis, Obama's admitted mentor during his formative years in Hawaii, was also Obama's real biological father.<ref name="WND">{{cite news|last=Corsi|first=Jerome|title=FILM: PRESIDENT'S FATHER NOT BARACK OBAMA|url=https://www.wnd.com/2012/04/film-presidents-father-not-barack-obama/|newspaper=[[wnd.com]]|date=April 25, 2012}}</ref> The film went on to chronicle Davis' influence on Obama and how Obama's polices as president mirrored Davis' pro-communist world view. Initially, so called "birthers" who believed Obama was born in Kenya were shocked by the film but came to embrace it.<ref name="Front Page Magazine">{{cite news|last=Tapson|first=Mark|title= DREAMS FROM MY REAL FATHER|url=https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/140413/dreams-my-real-father-story-reds-and-deception-mark-tapson|newspaper=[[ Front Page Magazine]]|date=August 13, 2012}}</ref> Gilbert's presentation at the National Press Club in Washington DC<ref name="wnd">{{cite news|last=Unruh|first=Bob|title=See the man who challenges Obama's family story|url=https://www.wnd.com/2012/07/see-the-man-who-challenges-obamas-family-story/|newspaper=[[wnd.com]|date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>in August 2012 caused a media frenzy.<ref name="Daily Mail">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Now it's getting REALLY dirty|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2210012/Film-claiming-Obamas-mother-posed-pornographic-pictures-sent-million-swing-voters.html|newspaper=[[ Daily Mail]]|date=September 28, 2012}}</ref> Dreams from My Real Father was screened at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida<ref name="wnd.com">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=OBAMA'S PAST READY TO ROCK RNC|url=https://www.wnd.com/2012/08/obamas-past-ready-to-rock-rnc/|newspaper=[[World Net Daily]]|date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> to much acclaim.In the Autumn of 2012, Gilbert distributed 2 million free copies by mail<ref name="World Net">{{cite news|last=Corsi|first=Jerome|title= Swing-state stunner: 'Dreams' mailed to 2.7 million|url=https://www.wnd.com/2012/10/swing-state-stunner-dreams-mailed-to-2-7-million/?cat_orig=politics|newspaper=[[World Net Daily]]|date=October 7, 2012}}</ref>in mostly swing states during September-October 2012 to gain attention for the film.<ref name="New York Times">{{ cite news|last=Peters|first=Jeremy|title= Strident Anti-Obama Messages Flood Key States|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/us/politics/strident-anti-obama-messages-flood-key-states.html|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|date=October 23, 2012}}</ref> Leftist activists complained to the Federal Election Commission<ref name="Federal Election Commission">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Before the Federal Election Commission |url=https://eqs.fec.gov/eqsdocsMUR/16044392671.pdf|newspaper=[[ Federal Election Commission]]|date=April 14, 2016}}</ref>that Gilbert was violating election laws by distributing his film about Barack Obama, as well as by advertising the film in the New York Post.<ref name="World Net Daily">{{cite news|last=Corsi|first=Jerome|title=New York Post ad exposes Obama's 'real father|url=https://eqs.fec.gov/eqsdocsMUR/16044386724.pdf|newspaper=[[World Net Daily]]|date=February 10, 2014}}</ref> However, Gilbert fought back<ref name="Fed Election Commission">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Before the Federal Election Commission |url=https://eqs.fec.gov/eqsdocsMUR/16044386847.pdf|newspaper=[[ Federal Election Commission]]|date=March 26, 2014}}</ref>and won a landmark media ruling when the FEC ruled in Gilbert's favor that Gilbert was in fact a media entity with a press exemption as regards production and distribution of his documentary film. David Weigel wrote of Gilbert's victory in the Washington Post in a piece titled, "How a Film About Obama’s Communist ‘Real Father’ Won at the FEC"<ref name="The Washington Post">{{cite news|last=Weigel|first=David|title=How a film about Obama’s communist ‘real father’ won at the FEC|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/08/how-a-film-about-obamas-communist-real-father-won-at-the-fec/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=April 8, 2016}}</ref> The FEC wrote "we voted to find no reason to believe that the filmmaker violated 52USC 30104c or 30120a by producing and distributing a documentary film".<ref name=foo>{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Before the Federal Election Commission |url=https://eqs.fec.gov/eqsdocsMUR/16044392671.pdf
|newspaper=[[ Federal Election Commission]]|date=April 14, 2016}}</ref> Barackobama.com and Leftist media attacked Gilbert and the film. The Daily Beast wrote, " With ‘Dreams From My Real Father,’ Have Obama Haters Hit Rock Bottom?"<ref name="The Daily Beast">{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Michelle|title= With ‘Dreams From My Real Father,’ Have Obama Haters Hit Rock Bottom?|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/with-dreams-from-my-real-father-have-obama-haters-hit-rock-bottom
|newspaper=[[ The Daily Beast]]|date=September 28, 2012}}</ref>and Slate Magazine wrote about "Birtherism and Frank Marshall Davis in Wisconsin".<ref name="Slate Magazine">{{cite news|last=Weigel|first=David|title=Birtherism and Frank Marshall Davis in Wisconsin |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2012/10/birtherism-and-frank-marshall-davis-in-wisconsin.html|newspaper=[[Slate Magazine]]|date=October 15, 2012}}</ref> However, The Boston Globe covered Gilbert's 2015 interview with Barack Obama's half-brother, Malik Obama, where Malik agreed that Barack Obama looked like Frank Marshall Davis and requested a DNA test.<ref name="The Boston Globe">{{cite news|last=Stockman|first=Farah|title=With Brothers like Malik Obama, Who Needs Enemies?|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/07/24/why-obama-probably-won-spend-family-time-with-his-half-brother-kenya/XCltC1uPrV0MjiYxE518KN/story.html|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=July 4, 2015}}</ref>
===There's No Place Like Utopia===
===The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America===
On September 16, 2019, Gilbert released both a book and a film called "The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking The Witness Fraud That Divided America. He debuted the film at The National Press Club <ref name="National Press Club">{{cite news|last=Powers|first=Patty|title=Press Conference and Film Screening: The Trayvon Hoax |url=https://www.press.org/events/press-conference-and-film-screening-thy-trayvon-hoax|newspaper=[[National Press Club]]|date=September 16, 2019}}</ref>in Washington, DC. The Trayvon Hoax alleges that the key witness for the prosecution, Rachel Jeantel, who claimed to have been on the phone with Trayvon Martin just before he was shot, was an imposter. <ref name="The American Spectator">{{cite news|last=Isaac|first=Rael Jean|title= Did the Media Force a False Narrative on the Trayvon Martin Case?|url=https://spectator.org/did-the-media-force-a-false-narrative-on-the-trayvon-martin-case/|newspaper=[[ The American Spectator]]|date=January 8, 2020}}</ref>The real girlfriend of Trayvon Martin is identified as Brittany Diamond Eugene, whose signature was determined by a handwriting expert to have been on the letter signed "Diamond Eugene" that was given to Trayvon Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton. <ref name="The Federalist">{{cite news|last=Barnett|first=Matthew|title= Documentary Claims Trayvon Martin Prosecution Hoaxed America|url=https://thefederalist.com/2020/02/26/documentary-claims-trayvon-martin-prosecution-hoaxed-america/|newspaper=[[The Federalist]]|date=February 26, 2020}}</ref>The film alleges the witness fraud was pushed the by media and politicians for their agendas. <ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite news|last=Zorn|first=Eric|title=Here’s why, eight years later, the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman story won’t go away |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/eric-zorn/ct-column-trayvon-zimmerman-anniversary-lawsuits-documentaries-zorn-20200222-kef4togy6va3blp23l37qu2knu-story.html|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=February 21, 2020}}</ref>In "Exposing the Trayvon Hoax" on Townhall.com, Bill Marshall of Judicial Watch wrote that Gilbert "exposes the much larger fraud on the American people that the Trayvon Martin hoax ignited." <ref name="Townhall.com">{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=William|title= Exposing the Trayvon Hoax|url=https://townhall.com/columnists/williammarshall/2019/09/13/exposing-the-trayvon-martin-hoax-n2553059|newspaper=[[Townhall.com]]|date=September 13, 2019}}</ref>Karl Notturno wrote in "The Trayvon Martin Hoax Comes Crashing Down" that "the only way we can make the future better is by learning from the past".<ref name="AmGreatness">{{cite news|last= Notturno|first=Karl|title= The Trayvon Martin Hoax Comes Crashing Down|url=https://www.amgreatness.com/2019/09/13/the-trayvon-martin-hoax-comes-crashing-down|newspaper=[[AmGreatness]]|date=September 13, 2019}}</ref> Jack Cashill in "Time to Un-tell the Trayvon lies" wrote "We still have the power to rewrite history, and Gilbert has proven as much." In American Thinker, former AP foreign correspondent Frank Hawkins wrote "Filmmaker Joel Gilbert’s new book and film The Trayvon Hoax brilliantly exposes one of the most fraudulent and shameful trials in the history of the United States...It’s a masterpiece of reporting."<ref name="AmThinkerThe American Thinker">{{cite news|last=Hawkins|first=Frank|title=The Trayvon Hoax – a Fraud on America|url=https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/09/the_trayvon_hoax__a_fraud_on_america.html|newspaper=[[AmThinkerThe American Thinker]]|date=September 17, 2019}}</ref>
==2016 Presidential Election==
Joel Gilbert was a video producer, media advisor, and writer for the Cruz for President campaign.<ref name="Front Page">{{cite news|last=Gilbert|first=Joel|title=CRUZ’S COURAGEOUS RIGHT MOVE|url=https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/264298/cruzs-courageous-right-move-joel-gilbert|newspaper=[[Front Page Magazine]]|date=September 26, 2016}}</ref> Gilbert also designed the Cruz for President official campaign poster<ref name="The Atlantic">{{cite news|last=Gibbens|first=Sarah|title=The Most Unusual 2016 Presidential Candidate Swag|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/07/photos-the-most-unusual-2016-presidential-candidate-swag/447894/|newspaper=[[The Atlantic]]|date=July 15, 2015}}</ref> and produced the animated short film, The Cruzade: The Constitution Strikes Back<ref name="Breitbart">{{cite news|last=Gilbert|first=Joel|title=The Constitution Strikes Back – The Cruzade|url=https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2015/12/17/watch-the-constitution-strikes-back-episode-vii-the-cruzade-starring-ted-cruz|newspaper=[[Breitbart]]|date=December 17, 2015}}</ref> as well as a campaign event warm up video "Imagine President Cruz."<ref name="You Tube">{{cite news|last=Gilbert|first=Joel|title=Imagine President Cruz |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0En0ahKlW3c|newspaper=[[You Tube]]|date=April 2016}}</ref> When Ted Cruz ended his campaign, Gilbert became a Trump supporter, envisioning and producing the now famous digital billboard "Super Trump"<ref name="New York Post">{{cite news|last=Campanile|first=Carl|title= ‘Super Trump’ ad in Times Square|url=https://nypost.com/2016/09/12/super-trump-ad-lands-in-times-square-after-hillarys-collapse|newspaper=[[New York Post]]|date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> that was displayed in Times Square.<ref name="The Hill">{{cite news|last=Vladimirov|first=Nikita|title=PAC buys 55-foot 'Super Trump' ad in Times Square|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/295725-roger-stones-pac-buys-55-foot-super-trump-ad-in-times|newspaper=[[The Hill]]|date=September 9, 2016}}</ref> The Super Trump billboard attracted CNN<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last=Moos|first=Jeanne|title=Supter Trumpa and Naked Trump both Halting Traffic|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/09/16/super-trump-vs-naked-trump-moos-pkg-erin.cnn|newspaper=[CNN]]|date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> and Fox News coverage<ref name="Fox News Insider">{{cite news|last= |first= |title=SuperPAC Placing ‘Super Trump’ Video Billboard in Times Square|url=https://insider.foxnews.com/2016/09/12/super-trump-video-billboard-going-ny-times-square-superpac-says|newspaper=[[ Fox News Insider]|date=September 12, 2016}}</ref> as well as hundreds of articles. Gilbert's brainchild idea was featured on Adweek and called it "a masterpiece of unintentional camp."<ref name="Adweek">{{cite news|last=Nudd|first=Tim|title=Ridiculous ‘Super Trump’ Billboard in Times Square Leaps Into Infamy in a Single Bound|url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/ridiculous-super-trump-billboard-times-square-leaps-infamy-single-bound-173512/|newspaper=[[Adweek]]|date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> Gilbert then directed and produced a documentary short film called Banished: The Untold Story of Danney Williams. The film told the story of Bill Clinton's alleged black son, Danney Williams, and detailed Danney's quest to gain the recognition of his father and stepmother Hillary Clinton. <ref name="DailyM">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Is this man Bill Clinton's love child? |url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3819671/Man-claiming-Bill-Clinton-s-illegitimate-son-prostitute-continues-campaign-former-president-recognize-him.html|newspaper=[[Daily Mail]]|date=October 3, 2016}}</ref>
==Filmography==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert, Joel}}
[[Category:Living people]][[Category:1964 births]][[Category:American filmmakers]][[Category:Artists from PittsburghPeople]]