Joshua Ray Walker

Joshua grew up listening to the 80's and 90's pop country that played on his parents car radio like many young Texans did at that time, but he was more interested in the records played in his grandfather's garage, where he spent most of his free time as a child. His grandfather, Ray, had a large collection of Rag-time, Bluegrass and folk music from the Smokey Mountains, where he grew up but played almost as often were Ray's "dance" records. He and Joshua's grandmother, Gail, had been professional dance instructors in Manhattan, where they met, before moving to Texas in the 70's. They brought along stacks of old salsa, meringue, rumba, bossa nova, cha-cha and even some south african penny whistle and choral music. This shaped Joshua's early career as a musician. His first instrument was Ray's four string tenor banjo. He soon graduated to a five string and then, at eight years old, a classical guitar after taking interest in flamenco music. At nine he was placed in his first formal lessons with a blues guitarist at a local music store. It didn't take long for him to want an electric so he could emulate the style he had seen his teacher play. Due to family financial issues Joshua could no longer take lessons and so began his self education as a musician.