Joel [Henry] Stein grew up in McLean to a family who loved music in the home. His wings spread as close as Vienna and as far away as Israel. From places and cultures across the U.S., Stein turns his inspiration to music. From a pop/folk band at his McLean high school to Rice University music conservatory, to professional performance and composition, Stein has spent almost his whole life dedicated to music.

Stein, now 42, lives in Los Angeles with his wife and child. His parents still live in McLean. And, on Aug. 2, Stein brought his one-man show to an old high school friend’s home in Vienna, performing for 40 friends from his younger days.

“I remember him as a delightful young man who was very talented … I was anxious to see what he accomplished over these 24 years.”

-- Elizabeth Lodal, former principal, McLean High.

“Joel wanted to be a musician since he was 5 years old,” said his mother Miriam Stein, taking a seat on the covered patio of Nina and Dan Somerville’s Vienna home. “I always supported his music. I knew how important it was to support him doing what he loves.”

Stein graduated from McLean High School in 1990. Elizabeth Lodal, principal of the school when Joel attended it, came to watch and listen to her former student. “I remember him as a delightful young man who was very talented,” said Lodal. “I was anxious to see what he accomplished over these 24 years.”

THE SOMERVILLE HOME was filled with friends who have stayed in-touch with Stein by email or through Stein’s Facebook page. When the in-house concert was announced, the calls went out to acquaintances in Stein’s network. Guests brought dishes to share in a buffet spread out before the concert and the Somervilles provided wine and the ideal summer venue for live music. Stein sang original compositions along with traditional favorites, stretching his repertoire from peppy music to a more blues reach.

Stein started with piano at 5 years old and picked up guitar at 12. He describes his music as folk music with a rock-and-roll influence. Add “blues-y” to that, as well. He carries the folk genre further beyond, embracing traditional Americana, bluegrass, spirituals, and Hebrew prayers and songs. When he’s performing, he’s Bob Dylan-esque as well as a splash or two of Arlo Guthrie. Guests of the Somerville concert sang along and clapped hands as Stein sang the MTA song, occasionally laughing over some of the song’s sillier lyrics.

Stein owns and runs Green Zebra Music, a music licensing company in L.A. that licenses music to film, TV and advertising. Green Zebra represents more than 50 artists and more than 1,500 songs.

ON TOP of Stein’s responsibilities as a composer, singer, musician, entertainment entrepreneur, and family man, Stein is, currently, collaboratively working on a rock opera, almost completed and ready to be shopped around. His next stop after Vienna was New York City where wife and baby would join him. For an evening, though, he was surrounded by many people who knew him as a talented kid who was also pretty-nice to be around. Some old friends from Stein’s McLean days, such as Angie Musick Addington, remember the junior high and high school band Stein played in.

“Back then, it was all covers, no original music,” said Addington, now living in Great Falls. “Joel was the musical talent of the group.”

To learn more about Joel Stein’s music and Green Zebra Music, go to www.joelstein.com or Stein’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/joelhenrystein.