Josh Martin

Good country music is represented from all areas of the good old U.S.A. but there is something special about the South, and the feeling grows stronger the closer you get to Macon, Ga. Associated with legendary soul singers such as Otis Redding, Little Richard and James Brown, the concentration of pure talent from the town as only punctuated with the arrival of the Allman Brothers and their large network of friends. Macon is the music capitol of Georgia and is the birthplace of southern rock. The area around Macon has always been fertile ground for rising stars who often start their singing at church. That's what happened with one of the most promising artists to emerge in the last few years.
Josh Martin was born and raised in Wilkinson County, situated just a few miles between Macon and Milledgeville. As a child he took to church singing and didn't look back. As the youngest in a large family all involved in music, Josh grew up unaware that his immersion in music was not the norm.
"My Mom played the piano and my Dad and oldest brother were always singing in church, so listening and singing was as natural to me as breathing," Josh said.
By the time he was 10-years-old, he was traveling and singing with his father in churches all over Georgia. He began opening for some of the biggest groups in southern gospel music. For four years, the natural tenor worked hard and expanded his horizons in the music world.
After taking some time off to live a normal teenager's life, Josh's voice and desire to make good music exploded. He left his teenage years behind him and found his voice again - a unique voice that is immediately identifiable and heartwarming.
Josh's love of country life comes across in lyrics and in his performances.
"If I had to pick two places to be at any given time, I would either be in the woods (hunting), or on stage (performing)," Josh said.
Josh embarked on a law enforcement career, all the while singing and thinking about his music. He worked as a certified Georgia police officer gaining insight to people that he still feels today.
"To become a member of that brotherhood will always be a special memory," Josh said. "Still, there was always this gnawing feeling inside of me that I was not satisfied with what I was doing. Something was missing and that 'something' was my music."
Josh entered a regional talent competition and won the opportunity to cover a few songs. Those songs caught the attention of a Nashville music publisher who invited him to come to Nashville. Josh made his first trip to Music City where the producer told him he had the talent, but needed to decide what kind of country artist he wanted to be, then become willing to give everything he had to become that artist. Josh returned home where he started searching himself to find his place in country music. He started writing songs, winning a world-wide songwriting contest. Winning just increased the gnawing sensation and his path became clear.
"I finally realized the only way I was going to find out if I had what it takes to make it in country music was to come where it's made everyday," Josh said.
So with that, Josh left the familiar and the comfortable and moved to Nashville where he has worked on honing his craft every day while enjoying life's roller coaster ride.
"I wouldn't trade this experience for anything," Josh said. "Man, I've learned so much, not only about this business, but about myself. Hey, I'm up here where it's happening and I'm a part of it - for now a small part - but one day... I'm living the life I was born to live. Living, learning and growing everyday and I believe the best is yet to come."