Josh Blakesley has acknowledged a simple calling: To make music that moves people into prayer and action. Josh has been stirred by the rhythms, melodies and chord progressions of contemporary songs long before he was old enough to know what these words meant. As he learned about Mozart, Bach and others, he began to realize that contemporary music is very simply the music of the people. The overtures and compositions of the 1700s were the popular songs of that era. People identified with those songs in the same way that today’s “hits” appeal to the masses of this generation. As a songwriter, specifically for Christian life in today’s era, the question that provokes him is, ‘how do I create a song that will honor traditions yet speak to the modern Church and lead them to worship?’
In 2003, Josh released his first solo album, Immersed, which included the popular anthem “Our God Is Good” and “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” Immersed was followed by his sophomore album, Waiting, and his third album, Free. His fourth album, You Are the Light was released to iTunes in March of 2012 debuting at #16 on the Christian and Gospel charts. Even in This, Josh and his band’s latest album, features songs co-written by Michael Farren, Mia Fieldes, Marc Byrd and Sarah Hart.
Most recently, Josh collaborated with his guitar player, Grae McCullough, to write a new mass setting, paying homage to the hymns of the past and the culture of modern worship. This long-awaited project called Mass of Restoration is now available anywhere music can be downloaded.
Josh travels widely giving concerts at parishes, speaking at youth rallies, and leading praise and worship at retreats. He is a veteran of many major events, including World Youth Day, NCYC, NCCYM, Steubenville Youth Conferences and more. Currently Josh is the Music Ministry Coordinator for St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and resides in Houston, TX with his wife, Heather, and their two children, Sophie and Sutton.