Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast Josh King interview
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Oct 25, 2025 Josh King, a talented harmonica player from Charlotte, shares his journey from sneaking into a legendary musician's dressing room at age eight to becoming a standout contestant on American Idol. He reveals insights about his mentorship with James Cotton, detailing the valuable lessons in performance and showmanship. Josh discusses the unique challenges of being a young artist and the pivotal role harmonica plays in his distinctive sound. He also hints at his upcoming music that blends classic pop elements while keeping the harmonica front and center.
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Sneaking Into Cotton's Dressing Room
- At eight Josh King snuck into James Cotton's dressing room and played harmonica for him, which led to Cotton mentoring him.
- Cotton immediately invited Josh to perform onstage and began a long mentorship guiding his performance skills and confidence.
Learning Showmanship From Cotton
- James Cotton taught Josh showmanship by placing him in front of bands and coaching stage interaction rather than formal lessons.
- Cotton insisted on two performance rules: always bow and always thank your audience at the end of a show.
Locked Out Of The RV
- On a festival trip Josh accidentally locked everyone out of the RV and had to be popped through a small window to let them back in.
- Cotton and the touring crew treated Josh like family and tolerated his youthful mischief on the road.