Biography
During his upbringing in Franklin, Tennessee, Josh Hoge grew up immersed in music, since his grandfather played jazz and both his father and brother performed in rock groups. By age ten he had discovered Jackie Wilson, the first of many lasting influences that later ranged from Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, and Jodeci to Bill Withers and Ray Charles. An impromptu version of a Bell Biv DeVoe song at a high-school pep rally convinced him to enter the music business; he subsequently took a mailroom job at Dreamworks Records in Nashville before moving to Los Angeles to join his girlfriend. On the West Coast he formed a friendship with Ne-Yo that produced several co-written tracks, yet after the relationship ended he returned to Nashville. He soon secured a contract with Epic Records and issued his debut single, “360,” on the label. Management changes at Epic led to his release from the roster, but he continued working independently. Without a manager or agent he booked his own national tour, obtained corporate sponsorship, and cut the Bedroom Sessions EP while traveling. Those efforts built a loyal audience and moved 10,000 copies of the EP in six months. The momentum brought a 2008 deal with Blackledge Music and the release of his first album, Everything She Was, which featured collaborations with Ne-Yo, Ryan Tedder, and Ashley Gorley as well as a duet with Caitlin Crosby.
Albums
Singles
