We had an opportunity to ask Josh Smith some questions this week. In the process, we learned just how determined this 27 year old guitarist is. He is a native of South Florida, who moved to L.A. to further his career. Josh just completed a seven month tour with Taylor Hicks and the Soul Patrol was mesmerized with his versatile guitar playing. His first CD release in seven years, "Deep Roots" is a fantastic collection of traditional blues tunes.
How did you get the gig with Taylor Hicks?
Loren called me for an audition and the rest is history.
Who else have you toured with? How did that compare with Taylor?
I toured internationally and nationally with Virgin recording artist Ricky Fante for over 2 years along w/many national tours of my own music. It is all pretty much the same but this tour has had the best fans. I have done studio work and gigs around L.A. with a number of people as well. Most of that is Pop and Hip-Hop.
Any funny bus stories you care to share with the Soul Patrol?
Nope. We usually slept.
The tattoos on your arm are quite intricate. Is there a story there about the meaning behind the tattoo?
I actually have many tattoos on both arms. Most are music related with the exception of a flaming heart on my wrist (matching one my wife has on her wrist), a 335 Gibson on my arm in honor of my son Riley B and also his namesake BB king, a Marshall style amp on my arm with my daughter's name (Mackenzie) instead of Marshall. The largest tattoo is a dragon with a Samurai. This one is still not finished.
How long have you been in music?
I started playing guitar when I was 3 and lessons when I was 6. I began playing in clubs/bars when I was 13. I had 4 CDs of my own music out by the time I was 20 but the blues genre is a hard one. I moved to L.A. 5 years ago when I was 22 in the hopes of being a sideman and doing studio work. I had my first touring gig one year later. I have been lucky and have played with many people over the years from BB King to Chris Layton & Tommy Shannon from Double Trouble, Jimmy Thackery. I have been friends with Keb'Mo for about 15 years. He is the one who actually encouraged me to move out to California.
Who is your inspiration?
BB King, Freddie King, Albert King, Sam Cooke, Stevie Ray, Bruce Springsteen, Danny Gatton and many more.
Do you play any other instruments?
I can play just about anything but guitar was always what I was meant to play.
What do you do to prepare for a show and then unwind after a show?
Nothing much for either. I am usually the most boring ,as I don't drink so I usually end up back at my hotel trying to get in a video chat with my family.
Tell us about your CD.
I always wanted to make a traditional blues & roots CD. I am really proud of it. It gave me the chance to work with some really great musicians here in Los Angeles. It has been well received.
Taylor's Angels wishes to thank Josh Smith for spending some time with us and we wish him the best in his future endeavors!
Please leave comments for Josh to read in our comment section!
For more information on Josh Smith visit:
http://www.myspace.com/joshsmithguitar
Listen to Deep Roots !
Published by Teri (Cydter) and Taylor's Angels
Photo Credits: Josh Smith, Phantom, Ragsqueen
Video Credit: PaytheDevil
Tags: Taylor Hicks, American Idol, Soul Patrol, Taylor's Angels
18 comments:
Great interview! Josh has lot of talent for a guy so young! And there's nothing boring about a man who doesn't drink or wants to spend time with his family via a video conference or phone call! All the best to Josh!
The word "determination" is right! How brave to move across country at such a young age to follow your dreams and your heart. Thanks so much, Josh, for incredible performances this year, for taking time to answer our questions, and for putting out some great music!! I hope we see you again and I can't wait to receive your new CD.
Leslie
Great interview...Josh is indeed a unique person!
Gypsee/TMO
Great Interview!!
Josh you are amazing. I've seen you in concert with TH twice and I'll see you this weekend in Bloomsburg and also at The Big E.
I purchased your cd Deep Roots for my brother as a birthday present and he LOVES it. We have a long running tradition of buying each other cds as gifts and I have to tell you that he talks about your cd all the time and how much he likes it.
Thanks for a great interview!
~Denise~
It has been wonderful to get to know Josh over the past several month. His musical talents are outstanding and he is a true professional in every sense of the word. We wish Josh the best in his future endeavors! Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with us all!
Very interesting! Thanks for that great interview!
Josh brought a whole new sound to the TH playbook ... I'll always think of him wailing away on "Heart & Soul."
so, he's been buds with Keb Mo, too ... I think we need a six degrees of KM ... what a fantastic person to influence so many great musicians
Josh is a wonderful guitarist and musician and so very talented. A true professional in every sense of the word. It has been a pleasure to see him perform with Taylor over the past several months and hope that we can see him again in the future. Good luck Josh in all your future endeavors. Thanks for the music. Look forward to receiving your CD.
Great interview! I agree with RadsQueen when she said, "There is nothing boring about a man who doesn't drink & wants to spend time with his Family." I find it admirable! Josh, when you toured with Taylor & after seeing you in Portland, Oregon, I was truly amazed at your ability to make your guitar 'talk'! You are an awesome musician & your determination to follow your dream is admirable & a fine example to others, as they pursue their musical careers! God's blessings to you throughout the coming years.
What a fantastic interview. I'm always amazed at the life-long passion musicians have for their craft. Josh, I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing you play. It's a difficult life for a family man but you seem like you have your head on straight and I'm sure everyone is very proud of your success.
~Wanda
Josh, you are a fantastic performer. I've had the pleasure of seeing you 5X now, and I'm thrilled you have the CD now- love your voice. I love the idea of a man who doesn't drink and go partying so he can stay back and visit with his family online or by phone. Not boring at all!!
Good luck in the future, Josh.
Annie/ sallyannlady
Josh has been a great part of Taylor's road band, and I enjoyed his guitar playing very much. It is very rare to find family men in the music business and Josh broke the mold. He follwed his heart in the same way Taylor did as he knew young what he wanted to do. Great article and hope to see him back on the road very soon.
Hey Josh....
You are the same age as me:-) Haha, anyway, I just wanted to let you know that this was an awesome interview. I have enjoyed seeing you play with Taylor through this tour. You are an excellent guatarist and I plan on picking up your CD, it sounds awesome. I commend your determination to live your dream, all of us aren't so lucky. Take care of yourself and welcome to the Soul Patrol!!!!!!
Cheri
Josh is really great. I would love to catch him on a solo tour. I recommend checking out his myspace page to hear 4 full tracks from the CD.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=83993525
Josh has been one of the highlights of the Talyor Hicks 2007 tour. I love his dry sense of musical humor- how he and Taylor play off eachother like in this video I posted on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ygPsg2aQc
His album is really good too, and shows a breadth of talent by encompassing old-style blues, Mowtown-sound cuts, and rock.
I really hope Josh and Taylor have the opportunity to work together again, both on tour and in the studio. And Josh, if you read this please make sure you post your schedule on your MySpace pages. What is great about us Taylor fans is we really appreciate good music, and so we are now YOUR fans also. Let us know where you are appearing, solo or otherwise, and who knows how many of us will show up!
Thanks for all the comments! I would like to add something that wasn't in the interview. Out of all the people in my life my wife has by far been the most supportive. We moved to L.A. 2 weeks after our wedding and she has continued to support my dreams in every way possible. Keb'Mo met her 8 years ago and told me then to hold on to her & I have done my best!
Again, thanks for all your support. I will continue to update my myspace and a very generous soul patroller is working on updating my website so that it is more current.
Josh Smith
I spoke with Josh after the Dallas HOB performance. He said that he began performing about 12 or 13. How did he, a kid, get into a bar at that young age? His loving parents went with him because they knew how much it meant to him.
That's 8 or 9 years sitting in a bar, being there for your son.
Congrats to Josh's parents for rearing such a fine young man!
Kudos to Josh for being a man of strong character as well as mesmerizing talent!
Looking forward to following your career and to seeing you on future tours.
Great honest interview...you are a rare jewel to Taylors tour and just wish I'd made the effort to see you after the Pompano show...keep on jammin
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