Hawaiian Lap Steele guitar or record an album? It’s still not an easy answer for me. Back in 2004 I saved $1,000 to put toward that guitar, but in a moment of weakness I thought “why don’t I spend money on something that will make me some money?” Drawing everything from savings, I wrote and recorded “Inspired by Tuesday”. It taught me that I could actually create something people would enjoy.
The birth of that album, at the time, meant no more college, no more responsibilities and no more 1984 Mercury Grand Marquis. I was young. My career didn’t skyrocket, in fact that year taught me of my need for college, responsibility and old beat-up cars. Sales were just good enough to show me that I was on to something, but at that time I had little to say. I didn’t know how to make sense of all I had experienced by that time in my life. I needed to spend more time developing what my message as an artist would be.
A few years later, I enrolled at the University of Utah and eventually graduated with a degree in Strategic Communication. The one thing I believed would interfere with my music career proved to the thing that advanced it – a diploma. I learned about discipline and how to finish well.
In high school, I had a list of three professions I admired: pastor, surgeon or musician. I experimented in a bit of each. Well, I’ve never been a surgeon, but I worked in an intensive care unit near surgeons. I stayed long enough to realize I didn’t want the hours surgeons worked. One doctor I talked to said his wife asked him to work less hours because their family was falling apart. He chose to keep his hours at the hospital, which left me turned off to the path of a surgeon.
I left Texas for Utah where I worked with high school students and led worship at two churches for a total of five years. It was good while it lasted, but I was eager to see that chapter pass. Finally, I landed as a singer/songwriter because I felt like it was a combination of all three professions I admired. I can write songs and use them as instruments of healing in the lives of the people I love.
I wrote the albums for my latest creation, the Villages Suite, to explore some trends I see in my community. Americans tend to be lonely people. We have more money than the rest of the world and more entertainment, yet statistically we have less meaningful relationships. The Villages Suite explores our loneliness and gives direction toward authentic community.
I believe melodies cut to the heart faster than words. Melody is a vehicle for healing words to penetrate someone’s mind. Maybe the words are meant to change their mind. Maybe they’re meant to open it to healing. Or maybe they’re meant to bring a needed escape. Regardless, music delivers truth like a preacher and healing like a surgeon.
To this day, each album comes with the question “Hawaiian Lap Steele or new album?” Still no lap steel and, with the release of four albums in 2009, one won’t be coming soon.
What it is! I just put up some previously unreleased tracks. They won’t be on my new album “Simply, Soulfully, Me” but they are still a reflection of who I am as an artist. Keep your eyes open for the new album’s release date! Thanks for your time and, hopefully, comments. Be Blessed.
Hey, it's Dave Clupper. If I haven't told you thank you for your support yet, thank you! Check out my profile to view a video of a live clip shot from Downtown Tulsa with my daughter Ellen. Also, you can listen to a majority of my new record "Letting Go" released earlier this month until June 1st. If you want to own a copy, look for the Buy Now Button on my profile or to just own a track it's available on iTunes and many other digital retailers. Talk soon!
SPAMED! Can you ever forgive me? If so, please vote for me!
I am in Round Two of The TRCoA Unsigned Artist Competition. Help me get to Round Three by voting here: http://www.trcoa.com/uac/uac2009_vote.html
If I’m in the top 4 I get to play a showcase for record executives and could win 100 free hours in the studio.
If I were selected, it would really help me rock some faces off, please take a second and vote.
Thanks!
-Ted Hadji
I have to know...how was it performing @ the game? I would have enjoyed being there. Keep going, we'll always be behind you (no matter how many years it's been since I've been in the same room with you).
I thank you also for the add Josh! It was great to hear you at church a few weeks ago. I have not seen you since ya came back from Flathead last summer. The kids sure love ya! Peace-
josh :D thanks for the add i'm moving up to utah soon and i HAD to check out the music scene to make sure that it is pretty awesome :D hope to see you live soon -Caitie
Josh, you must have a lot of friends-- there are so many people trying to listen to "Renaissance" that it has frequently been "unavailable" today!! Good luck with KLOVE!
Josh Ro! I would greatly appreciate if you could send a reqest to help out one of the arts in Lubbock!
Ballet Lubbock is in a non-profit battle starting today you can vote EVERYDAY UNTIL DEC 21st! Just go to www.citybankonline.com and vote for us. The prize for being one of the top 5 Non Profits in the Community is $10,000! We cannot do it without you!
It will help so many little girls be able to take dance who otherwise would not be able to do so! Thanks! Are you coming in for the holidays?
Hey josh thank you so much for coming to uea it was pretty great I had a really good trip! favorite ride was definately tatsu! but I still owe you six kicks! so next time you come to club you are going to get it! but I won't kick you in the shines I promise! :)
Thanx for Your Friendship,,,Hope you like the Art & Music it wouldn't fit on the fridge so we appreciate your space like your space should be appreciated,,,You RocK!!!
Hey Josh, I just wanted to thank you so much for supporting my stuff! You rock!!! Also ck out the brand new www.CandyCoburn.com with the free community area! Hope to see you soon at one of the great shows coming up! Candy!
Hawaiian Lap Steele guitar or record an album? It’s still not an easy answer for me. Back in 2004 I saved $1,000 to put toward that guitar, but in a moment of weakness I thought “why don’t I spend money on something that will make me some money?” Drawing everything from savings, I wrote and recorded “Inspired by Tuesday”. It taught me that I could actually create something people would enjoy.
The birth of that album, at the time, meant no more college, no more responsibilities and no more 1984 Mercury Grand Marquis. I was young. My career didn’t skyrocket, in fact that year taught me of my need for college, responsibility and old beat-up cars. Sales were just good enough to show me that I was on to something, but at that time I had little to say. I didn’t know how to make sense of all I had experienced by that time in my life. I needed to spend more time developing what my message as an artist would be.
A few years later, I enrolled at the University of Utah and eventually graduated with a degree in Strategic Communication. The one thing I believed would interfere with my music career proved to the thing that advanced it – a diploma. I learned about discipline and how to finish well.
In high school, I had a list of three professions I admired: pastor, surgeon or musician. I experimented in a bit of each. Well, I’ve never been a surgeon, but I worked in an intensive care unit near surgeons. I stayed long enough to realize I didn’t want the hours surgeons worked. One doctor I talked to said his wife asked him to work less hours because their family was falling apart. He chose to keep his hours at the hospital, which left me turned off to the path of a surgeon.
I left Texas for Utah where I worked with high school students and led worship at two churches for a total of five years. It was good while it lasted, but I was eager to see that chapter pass. Finally, I landed as a singer/songwriter because I felt like it was a combination of all three professions I admired. I can write songs and use them as instruments of healing in the lives of the people I love.
I wrote the albums for my latest creation, the Villages Suite, to explore some trends I see in my community. Americans tend to be lonely people. We have more money than the rest of the world and more entertainment, yet statistically we have less meaningful relationships. The Villages Suite explores our loneliness and gives direction toward authentic community.
I believe melodies cut to the heart faster than words. Melody is a vehicle for healing words to penetrate someone’s mind. Maybe the words are meant to change their mind. Maybe they’re meant to open it to healing. Or maybe they’re meant to bring a needed escape. Regardless, music delivers truth like a preacher and healing like a surgeon.
To this day, each album comes with the question “Hawaiian Lap Steele or new album?” Still no lap steel and, with the release of four albums in 2009, one won’t be coming soon.
