Though we have not begun to scratch the surface of Joshua's Journey; most of his stories have been of severe tragedy and even those that have not been spoken of are beyond disbelief. As we have stated earlier, it is very difficult to keep in order his stories, because they are so many and so complex.
As Joshua graduated from high school early, he had received his doctorate in medicine at the age of 22. At the age of 21, he had picked up the guitar. Though he had practiced shortly in the field of medicine, he knew that his calling was music. It was not shortly after this that he became severely ill affecting his opportunities. At the age of 22, Joshua had formed a band. After one month of playing, submitted a song to a major record label. Just one. Within two weeks, he had gotten a reply. It was Atlantic Records.
Through a series of events, the record deal did not come to be. At the same time a wonderful company had offered Joshua an endorsement deal. GHS Strings. It was initially a three year contract at 70% off that eventually lasted for over a decade at 100% off all merchandise from GHS Strings and their sister company Rock Tron. A wonderful company who has promised that when he has recovered, his endorsement will be back in full effect. He's always considered them friends and family. And would play no other string.
Throughout the years, opportunity kept knocking. The music industry had changed quite dramatically as companies were buying out other companies; merging etc. The days of unsolicited material were over. You had to know someone to be someone. It's like the old adage you can't get a job unless you have experience, but the job you're applying for would give you the experience. That is one of the reasons that Joshua started his own record company GTRecords; where he and his wife have control over such things as this. Not with just a record deal, but with production, helping with the creative process, management, distribution, bookings. When you're in the music industry it all becomes very simple, but until you get there it is an excruciating process. Because of Joshua's illness, he did not do much recording. He toured quite often. Through some of his treatments, he'd have to see a doctor weekly. One day Joshua was at home and he received a phone call from Tom Wright. Some people know Tom Wright as being an amazing photographer, chronicling amazing photos of incredible musical bands. How Tom came to be THE Tom Wright is that he grew up with the band The Who. He offered to be their manager and history was made; for that is what had happened. Tom had heard of Joshua through word of mouth. When Joshua would record, he preferred to go to his own studio that he had built throughout the years; a small town, so he could be alone and free from distraction. Can you call this serendipitous? Tom Wright lived not just several miles from Joshua's studio, but had no idea.
It all started like this, during the summer break from college, a famous world renowned bar/restaurant with an incredible amount of other great enjoyments called Brownwood Acres, was reopened. People such as Paul Newman, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra would come and sing at this restaurant. 15 years or so earlier there was an actress named Christine Laudi who was a dancer at this club. The dancers were called the Brownwood Honeybees. When the new renters had come in, knowing the history of this amazing place, Joshua was immediately asked to form a band and was asked to call it the Brownwood Killer Bees. Within 2 weeks, as Joshua can play almost every instrument, taught this band how to play a 4 hour set of songs. This is the start of the word of mouth.
Back to Tom Wright. Joshua, still being ill, was doing a little better. Though he was still having trouble with his medical treatment, Tom had called Joshua one day and they had a long conversation. Joshua stated that Tom had extreme excitement in his voice. Tom simply asked Joshua to do a recording. He wanted it on a tape. Yes a simple tape recorder. As Joshua's favorite PA system to use for practice, called a Fender Passport, Joshua wracked out 7 or 8 tunes, some acoustic, some electric, some covers, some originals. He sent it to Tom. Tom called Joshua back three days later. The excitement was incredible. Tom told Joshua that he had never heard anything like him. He said "You need to be heard, and to be honest this will finally get me back to what I'm supposed to be doing, which is managing."
He explained to Joshua why he wanted the recording on a tape, as he was old school; because there could be no overdubbing or second takes. After that it was easy. Tom offered to do all the work, but explained that his mother was ailing. So Joshua called up Epic Records, simply said Tom's name, which Joshua had already had dealings with Epic and had already turned down two record deal offers, but obviously it would not hurt matters to have Tom Wright in your corner. Joshua had flown down to Epic's New York headquarters and performed in one of the many A&R rep's offices. He simply had a Peavey Delta Blues with a 15" speaker, a tube screamer, and his Fender strat, strings 13-58. They asked if he could do a small demo with just three songs for legal purposes. Because of Joshua's illness, he had to fly back to where his doctor was. He had left his equipment at Epic. As he went back into the doctor, he became very ill again. A multitude of treatment, a multitude of medication.
When Joshua had first submitted to a record company, he had simply bought a book called SongWriters Market. One of the biggest things he had learned was not to make excuses. A&R reps feel quite degraded when this is done. Most believe they can hear the talent and gifts and to make excuses for your sound is irrelevant. Joshua had read a book by Eric Clapton, who by this time he had met several times over and had played alongside. Eric said, " I do not want a boy's voice, I do not want to hear a boy's voice, I wanted a man's voice." Explaining about all of the horrible recording sessions and how awful he was, yet thought he was incredible. At this time, Joshua had only had a couple of amps and guitars. His best ones were left back at Epic/Sony Records. So he was left to use horrible equipment, plugged directly into the computer, doing all the instruments, going through chemo and on a lot of medication, this took away from his singing, of course, music ability in general. But, they already heard him live, so, he spit it all out, one take, then overdubbed the accompanying music; again, which he played all instruments himself.
As Joshua has stated before, so many opportunities have come and gone because of illness, that nobody has truly heard what he sounds like. But this story is about the people along the way.
Shortly after Tom's mother became ill, so did Tom. Joshua often feels disappointed as he has told us several times, what bothers him the most is that he could not give Tom the opportunity that Tom had so generously and unselfishly given him. But this is one of the examples of who you touch in your life. Of who remembers you. Who knows of you. But more importantly, what do they remember? And what do they know about you? There are always going to be people who have nothing good to say about anything or anybody. Those people don't matter. There will always be the Tom Wrights and the GHS strings. Many times people give false hope. Sometimes because they want to hurt, sometimes it's because they want to be something so badly for themselves and for someone else, they believe if they speak it they will will it to happen leaving people to be disappointed. In life, you can be sure of something about lying, in a personal conversation the more information that people offer up about something that is not asked, it's more than likely a lie or an embellishment. And interestingly enough, it seems as if the more people know about something, especially a lie, that somehow it becomes the truth.
Many things that Joshua has taught us. As of now, Joshua's the sickest that he's ever been. All of us here at the GSET team have no idea why this is happening. What seemed to be a simple fix within his body has now become so complex. He has mentioned often; what if he would have taken one of those record deals, would his life be worth saving? Or at least would he be getting proper medical treatment? If you subscribe to "Nothing happens out of God's will." then there must be a reason. Serendipitous. Simply fate. Joshua has stated several times before, that at 34 it was finally his time to shine. Though it has not come to pass, the last time Joshua was ill for three and a half years, when he had gotten better, he was thankful. If God is listening, we ask for Joshua's healing. There are many people who have touched his life, but we believe even more in the people's lives that he has touched for the better. Though there are so many tragedies yet to be revealed, and so many joys, living them, living through them, is completely different than seeing or hearing about them. Something that Joshua had wanted to state before he was in the hospital, we only received part of it, but we believe it would be fitting to put out there.
When Joshua was 34, at that time he had met a young lady that was only 20, now his wife Anna Bella. Though they have went through horrible tragedies together, the word that is being emphasized here is together. Starting out in the purest love, how damaging sickness can be, real sickness. He said it seems as if when there's more love to be had, the more it can be taken away. Desperation, frustration, confusion, ensues, but it will come to pass. Sometimes you shut yourself down so you can start from scratch and build yourself back up. Through all their troubles, we have never seen a truer love than that of Joshua and Anna's. Through thick and thin, good and bad, they stayed by each other's side. Before Joshua went into the hospital, this is the last statement that was sent to us: In every situation in life, from the worst, to the best. from the smallest to the biggest, when you can only see yourself experiencing all of these things with only one person, and without that person there would be no joy to be had, then my friends, you have found true love. And that is Joshua and his wife Andy.
~GSET TEAM~
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