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Williams, Josh

JOSH WILLIAMS

  • From Benton, Kentucky. Lives in Dickson, Tennessee.
  • Was one of bluegrass music’s child prodigies. Gained national recognition when he appeared on the 1993 IBMA Awards show in the “Bluegrass Youth All-Stars” band with Chris Thile, Cody Kilby and Michael Cleveland.
  • Plays all the bluegrass instruments, but began as a banjo player at age 8. Alison Brown gave him lessons.
  • 1990, formed his first band (at age 10).
  • 1991, recorded first album (at age 11).
  • 1994-1998, performed with The Young Acoustic All-Stars.
  • 1996, formed his own band, High Gear.
  • 1997, released Come to that River album (Copper Creek).
  • 1998, played with a group called Hyperdrive (with Jonathan Jones, Chris and Scott Thile).
  • 2000, played mandolin and fiddle with The Special Consensus.
  • 2001, released Now That You’re Gone album (Pinecastle).
  • 2003-7, played guitar with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.
  • 2004, released Lonesome Highway album (Pinecastle).
  • 2008, formed The Josh Williams Band. Also worked dates with Alecia Nugent, the Larry Stephenson Band and the Tony Rice Unit (playing mandolin). He also played fill-in dates with the Mashville Brigade (Tuesday nights at the Station Inn).
  • 2008, 2009, 2010, won the IBMA award for Guitar Player of the Year.
  • 2010, released Down Home album (Pinecastle).
  • 2010, won the IBMA Award for Emerging Artist of the Year (The Josh Williams Band).
  • 2010, checked himself into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility to recover from his two-year addiction to methamphetamines.
  • 2012, re-joined Rhonda Vincent and the Rage.
  • 2016, released Modern Day Man album (Rounder).
  • 2021, left Rhonda Vincent and the Rage to spend more time with his family.