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Many people have been asking me why my stage name recently morphed from Joe to Jo3 as evidenced in the liner notes of Nothing But Blue. Don't worry, just the spelling has changed – the pronunciation remains the same.

The answer is really simple and ridiculous.

I found it quite comical went Prince went to that symbol and then to The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. I know his reason had to do with alleged record label shenanigans, but I still found it amusing.

Then I started noticing that all the coolest people in the music industry were not born with the names we know them as! I mean – half The Beatles – if that isn't proof enough? And 26 letters be damned, some of 'em got out the shift key too.

I had to be a part of this exclusive club. And look at the company I keep!

Barry Manilow (born: Barry Alan Pinkus) - cool because he made inoffensive cool

Benny Hill (born: Alfred Hawthorne Hill) – not a singer but who doesn't love this guy?

Bob Dylan (born: Robert Allen Zimmerman) - cool because he never pronounced any words

Ke$ha (born: Kesha Rose Sebert) - cool because of the dollar sign

P.Diddy (born: Sean Combs) - cool because he changed his name more than once, formerly Puff Daddy

P!nk (born Alecia Beth Moore) - cool because of the exclamation point

Prince (born: Prince Roger Nelson) - cool because of the song "7"

Paul McCartney (born: James Paul McCartney) - he's a Beatle...need I say more?

Ringo Starr (born: Richard Starkey) - also a Beatle

Snoopy Doggy Dog (born: Calvin Broadus) - cool because our manager, Mark Watson, was once his driver for a day

Tina Turner (born: Anna Bullock) - cool because she stole the spotlight from Beyonce at the 2008 Grammy Awards

See what I mean? Cool, eh?

Now I just sit back and wait for them to mention me in their blogs. (I kid, I kid...)