How Did You Handle Early Performance Pressure?

Josh King joins me on episode 145.

Josh hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, and picked up his first harmonica at just six years old.
By the time he was eight, he’d found an incredible mentor in the legendary James Cotton, after boldly sneaking into Cotton’s dressing room at a show. That chance encounter turned into a lasting mentorship, with Josh joining Cotton on stage numerous times during his teens.

In 2025, Josh brought his talents to a national audience as a contestant on American Idol. While the spotlight was on his singing and piano playing, it was the harmonica that gave Josh his distinctive edge.
Today, he continues to create and perform new music, keeping the harmonica right at the heart of his sound.

Links:

Josh’s website: https://www.joshkingmusic.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJoshKing

Videos:

House of the Rising Sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgiGWD9cOWI

Playing Hoochie Coochie Man with James Cotton age 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blBAqb_jyn0

Rolling In The Deep on American Idol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-3dWlkR7q0

Hopelessly on American Idol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np8YhQM6kjk&list=RDnp8YhQM6kjk&start_radio=1

Playing with Buddy Guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcV04BKOdc0

Playing with Tommy Emmanuel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G353LZWD52E

Singing US national anthem in 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FCLnN1384Y

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram at SEYDEL HARMONICAS
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Blue Moon Harmonicas: https://bluemoonharmonicas.com

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