Josh Joplin

Josh Joplin (born Joshua David Blum, 1 January 1972) is an American singer, songwriter, music and film producer.[1][2][3][4] He has founded the bands Josh Joplin Group and Among The Oak & Ash.[5][6] His song "Camera One" was the first independent release to hit #1 at Triple A radio.[7][8] His song "Blue Skies Again" was recorded by Jessica Lea Mayfield for her Nonesuch debut, Tell Me. Pitchfork praised it as, "simple, the infectious chorus makes it a standout...it's also a sunny, reassuring song."[9] Josh has toured extensively in North America, Europe, and Australia, and has recorded several albums with different bands.[10][11]

Josh Joplin
Joplin in studio New York City, 2015
Background information
Birth nameJoshua David Blum
Born1 January 1972
Washington DC, US
Genres
Occupation(s)
Labels
  • Sleepless Nights Records
  • Artemis Records
  • Sony Records
  • Epic Records
  • Verve Records
  • 9th Grade Records
Associated actsLunchbox
Josh Joplin Band
Josh Joplin Group
Among The Oak & Ash
Websitejoshjoplin.com

Life and career

Born in Washington, DC, Joplin grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.[2][3][12] His family relocated to Columbia, Maryland,[13] when he was 13. Josh attended Sandy Spring Friends School and learned from his headmaster in the 7th grade how to play guitar. He quit the school's Community House program in the 9th grade and finished the year at Hammond High School. He briefly returned before dropping out of high school altogether. At the age of 16, Joplin successfully passed the GED and earned his Maryland high school diploma.

Inspired by William Least Heat-Moon's travelogue Blue Highways and Woody Guthrie's Bound for Glory, Josh picked up his guitar and left home in a 1976 Volkswagen camper van and spent two years on and off the road, before settling in Denver, Colorado. His first professional job in music was as the runner for folk/blues legend Dave Van Ronk's concert at Swallow Hill Music Association. They hired him later the same year to open for Bill Staines.

His interest in folk music began in earnest after hearing Bob Dylan's The Times They Are a-Changin', and Phil Ochs' Gunfight at Carnegie Hall. Josh recorded an Ochs cover, "I Ain't a Marchin' Anymore", on his first record, Facts of Fortune for Sleepless Nights Records, a DC record label, founded by Mr. Issa (Diao) of Good Clean Fun.[14][15] Joplin released his first album in 1989, titled A Present for Hitler. Geoffrey Himes gave Joplin his very first notice, in the Columbia Flier, in 1990.

Atlanta

Having stayed a short time in New York City, Joplin heard Kevn Kinney on WFUV and bought his record, MacDougal Blues.[16] This convinced him to relocate to Atlanta. He played mostly solo shows for tips at Sylvia's Atomic Cafe, a Candler Park neighborhood landmark.[17] It was here that Josh met fellow songwriter Kelly Hogan, who worked there as a cook and played in The Jody Grind. He also met Shawn Mullins at the cafe.[17][18][19] Upon seeing Five-Eight opening for The Jody Grind, Joplin began to look for a band of his own.[20][21]

He recorded his third and last album for Sleepless Nights, I Love Janey, But Janey Loves The Grateful Dead. It was produced by Ed Burdell (Magnapop). Members of The Mirthmakers and Joybang backed Joplin on the recording.[10] For a while, he played music with Ani Cordero on drums and a friend on bass, but he finally emerged with his own lineup. In 1995, Geoff Melkonian (bass, viola) and Jason Buecker (drums) founded the Josh Joplin Band. They released the albums Projector Head and Boxing Nostalgic as a trio, later adding Allen Broyles on piano and organ.[22] Shawn Mullins signed the quartet to his own SMG Label. He produced the original version of Useful Music, Joplin's sixth studio album. Shortly after its release, Jason Buecker was replaced on drums by Ani Cordero, then Eric Taylor. Deeds Davis was added on lead guitar and the band made a slight name change: Josh Joplin Group. [23][24][25][26][27]

Artemis Records re-released Useful Music in 2001 and scored the band's first and only number one hit at Triple A radio with "Camera One", which was produced by Jerry Harrison of The Modern Lovers and Talking Heads.[28] The band made their television debut that year, appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman,[29] followed by Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[30][31] "Camera One" was also featured in the TV shows Scrubs, Dawsons Creek, Party of Five, Roswell, among others.[32][33][34][35]

New York City

Joplin moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1998. He continued to tour and play with Josh Joplin Group as well as doing solo shows. The band followed the success of Useful Music with the album The Future That Was, produced by Rob Gal (The Rock-A-Teens). It was recorded at Adam Schlesinger and James Iha’s studio, Stratosphere Sound.[36][37] Though it received much more critical acclaim,[16][38][25][26][39] it had very little commercial success. Josh Joplin Group disbanded in December 2003.

In 2004, Joplin was still living in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, across the street from his then-neighbor, Dan Zanes (The Del Fuegos).[40] Dan hosted impromptu stoop concerts for the children (and adults) on the block. Joplin stated being deeply inspired by these intimate events.[41] When he recorded the album Jaywalker,[42] he sought ways to mimic the joy he witnessed with Dan by recording the album with the friends and people he'd grown up with,[43] including the headmaster who had taught him guitar. Jaywalker was released on 23 August 2005 on Eleven Thirty Records.[44][45]

In 2013, Joplin independently released the 5-song EP Earth and Other Things on 9th Grade Records. It remains his last musical effort under the name Josh Joplin.[46] It was recorded at Mercy Sound Studio[47][48] on the Lower East Side of New York City by producer/engineer/guitarist Matt Chiaravalle. [49] Matt and Josh had also worked together on Useful Music. [49]

Among The Oak & Ash

In 2008, Joplin formed a new band called Among The Oak & Ash[50] with Garrison Starr,[51] Bryan Owings,[52] and Brian Harrison. They released their self-titled debut album in 2009 on Verve Records.[53] It was named Album of the Year[54] by WNYC's John Schaeffer on his program Soundcheck.[54]They followed it with Devil Ship in 2011.[55] This album featured performances by Lucy Wainwright Roche, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Paleface, and Rachael Hester.[56] In 2014, they recorded a third album, A Skeptics Gospel, which was never released.[57] Harrison, who had co-produced all three records, died at his Nashville studio on 18 February 2014.[58][59]

NarrowMoat

In 2015, Josh founded the production company NarrowMoat. Blum, who by now had shed his musical pseudonym, has produced two independent films, About Colonia[60][61] and The Murphys.[62] About Colonia, directed by Eduardo Shlomo Velázquez, was screened and lauded with awards in the short film and Spanish-language categories at several international film festivals.[63]

Discography
  • A Present for Hitler (1989) Josh Joplin
  • Facts of Fortune (1990) Josh Joplin
  • I Love Janey, But Janey Loves the Grateful Dead (1992) Josh Joplin
  • Projector Head (1995) Josh Joplin Band
  • Boxing Nostalgic (1997) Josh Joplin Band
  • Useful Music (1998) (re-issued in 2001) Josh Joplin Band
  • The Future That Was (2002) Josh Joplin Group
  • The Early Years: Volume One (Compilation - 2004) Josh Joplin
  • Jaywalker (2005) Josh Joplin
  • Among the Oak & Ash (2009) Among the Oak & Ash
  • Devil Ship (2011) Among the Oak & Ash
  • Earth and Other Things (EP - 2013) Josh Joplin

References
  1. Blum, Joshua David (13 February 2020). "About Colonia". Queens World Film Festival.
  2. Stehman, Scott (11 September 1974). "Tot, 3, Cut and Bruised". Intelligencer Journal.
  3. Alexieff, Stephanie H. (7 July 1984). "Teen Of The Week". Lancaster New Era.
  4. Montes, Kevin (30 October 2016). "Who's Afraid Of Thomas Wolfe?". MeetMeInMontauk.
  5. Waterhouse, Jon (6 August 2010). "Go Guide: 10 Days Out". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  6. Harrington, Michael (29 October 2009). "7 Days: Two Of Our Faves: Among The Oak & Ash A Fine Frenzy". The Philadelphia Enquirer.
  7. "Chart History". Billboard. 14 April 2001.
  8. Jenkins, Daniel (16 December 2000). "Billboard".
  9. Deusner, Stephen M. (11 February 2011). "Tell Me Album Review". Pitchfork.
  10. Dollar, Steve (8 June 1993). "Sound Shopping: Local Acts Independents Fuel The Resurgence Of 7-inch Vinyl". The Atlanta Journal.
  11. Murray, Sonia. "In The Clubs: CD Release Party Josh Joplin". The Atlanta Journal.
  12. Kassulke, Natasha (21 July 2001). "Josh Joplin Group Focuses on Annex". Madison State Journal.
  13. Brooks, Paula (27 September 1991). "This Weekend: Roots Cafe". The Baltimore Sun.
  14. Diao, Issa. "Equal Vision: Good Clean Fun".
  15. Joplin, Josh. "Good Clean Fun Movie". IMDb.
  16. Newman, Leah (25 September 2002). "The Red& Black (Archives)".
  17. Crenshaw, Holly (29 April 1993). "Coffeehouses, The Funky Teen Haven". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  18. Murray, Sonia (10 April 1993). "In The Clubs". The Atlanta Journal.
  19. DeVault, Russ (23 January 1993). "In The Clubs". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  20. "Best Bets: Five-Eight et al, opening Josh Joplin". The Atlanta Journal. 19 February 1994.
  21. Dollar, Steve (10 April 1992). "Dodging Pigeonhole, Jody Grind Unleashes Genre-Jumping 'Deciever'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  22. Hamilton, Doug (5 January 1996). "Josh Joplin Band". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  23. "Useful Music Review". 15 February 2002.
  24. "Discography: Josh Joplin Group". Discogs.
  25. Slone, Sean (25 November 2002). "Review: The Future That Was". Ink19.
  26. Moye, Jay (1 April 2003). "Josh Joplin Group Review - The Future That Was". Paste.
  27. Cordero, Ani (7 October 2017). "Ani Cordero". MassMoCa.
  28. Harrison, Jerry. "Jerry Harrison Discography". AllMusic.
  29. Letterman, David (2 March 2001). "Late Night with David Letterman Appearance". Vortago.
  30. "Star Democrat". 28 December 2007.
  31. O'Brien, Conan (9 February 2001). "Late Night With Conan O'Brien". The TV DB.
  32. "Scrubs: My Super Ego". IMBd. 6 November 2001.
  33. "Dawsons Creek: Promicide". Dawsons Creek TkTV. 2 May 2001.
  34. "Party Of Five Soundtracks". IMDb. 10 March 2001.
  35. "Roswell: Juliana Theory". Sweet Honey Girl. 2 February 2001.
  36. Schlesinger, Adam (15 December 2012). "Reflects From Co-owner Adam Schlesinger".
  37. Cullers, Rudyard Lee (5 May 2002). "Discogs".
  38. Christgau, Robert (2 September 2004). "Not Joshing Around". Village Voice Reviews: Robert Christgau.
  39. Scarrone, John (7 January 2003). "Good Stuff: The Future That Was One Of 2002's Best".
  40. Beck, Mariko (28 October 2005). "Josh Joplin Walks Alone". The Record.
  41. Gargano, Jason (5 October 2005). "CityBeat".
  42. Stewart, Mason (23 August 2005). "Jaywalker Review". AllMusic.
  43. Harrison, Shane (7 December 2007). "Joplin Returns". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  44. "New Releases: Jaywalker". 19 August 2005.
  45. Rob, Thomas (1 September 2005). "Jaywalker: CD Reviews". Wisconsin State Journal.
  46. "Josh Joplin: Earth and Other Things". Time Out - New York City. 3 October 2013.
  47. "Debbie Harry at NYC Studio". Celebs Secrets. 4 September 2015.
  48. "Clients: Mercy Sound". Mercy Sound Studio. 30 April 2001.
  49. "Matt Chiaravalle". 3 October 2013.
  50. DiGiacomo, Frank (14 August 2009). "Making Appalachia Rock". Vanity Fair.
  51. "NPR Artists at WFUV". 17 September 2009.
  52. Owings, Bryan (1 February 2009). "Bryan Owings Credits". AllMusic.
  53. Harrison, Brian (1 February 2014). "Credits: Brian Harrison".
  54. Schaeffer, John. "Soundcheck: Picks Of The Year 2009". WNYC Studios: Soundcheck.
  55. Joplin, Josh (1 February 2014). "Devil Ship Album Credits". Discogs.
  56. "Album Credits: Devil Ship". Discogs. 1 February 2014.
  57. Harrison, Brian. "Brian Harrison". Discogs.
  58. Silverman, Jack (20 February 2014). "Musician Producer Brian Brain Harrison Dies at 54".
  59. "Obituary: Brian Harrison". The Tennessean. 20 February 2014.
  60. "About Colonia". Queen World Film Festival. 19 March 2020.
  61. "About Colonia". Cinema Boreal. 2 June 2019.
  62. "The Murphys". IMDb. 1 April 2018.
  63. "Verandi Films". Gramho. 2 March 2020.
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