Josh Rosenthal practices Take it to the Limit in the Green Room
Josh Rosenthal performs Renaissance at the Heights Baptist Church
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.
Your music is so beautiful. You played for Campus Crusade for Christ at Texas Tech and I really enjoyed it and the things you had to say as well. I have been going through a really hard time in my life and to hear you talk about our faith and where you come from and the Christians there in Utah, it was really inspiring. I can't wait to hear more from you!!
How's it going? Have you had a chance to download my new single "On My Way" for free? Let me know what you think about the new tunes...have a great Friday..
This Labor Day/Miner's Day Monday, Sept. 7th join us at our sister bar JB Mulligans with the band "The Pimps of Joytime" and $1 beer! No Cover before 10:30pm! and did i say $1 draft beer!
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!
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