MOTOR CITY JOSH & THE BIG 3

BIO

MOTOR CITY JOSH - FINDING A NEW GEAR

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FINDING A NEW GEAR is the 13th album from Detroit’s veteran blues

journeyman, Motor City Josh. Born in Warren, MI to a musical family,

Joshua Steven Ford was the eldest son of parents who were both preachers.

As a youngster, Ford showed interest in the guitar and by the age of 19 he was

earning a living as a full-time musician. HIs earliest heroes included legendary

artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, Albert Collins, and Taj Mahal - all of whose

influences still ring in the echoes of Ford’s best work.

An accomplished songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and renowned slide

guitarist, Motor City Josh spent over 15 years (2000 - 2015) touring

relentlessly throughout the 48 contiguous states. He and his bandmates

logged hundreds of thousands of miles riding up and down the highways and

byways of America. In the process, they amassed a loyal following throughout

the south and all along the east coast - traveling from Key West, FL to

Rockland, ME.

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In 2011, Ford opened The Sound Shop Recording Studios in Macomb, MI. In

his role as both recording engineer and producer, he has worked on more than

250 recording projects - oftentimes collaborating and co-writing songs with his

artists. He has produced recordings by up-and-coming Detroit artists such as

Jennifer Westwood and Pat Smillie. His extensive track record, his boundless

creativity, and his easy-going demeanor have made Josh and the Sound Shop

one of Metro Detroit’s finest recording studios. In 2021, Ford was awarded the

Detroit Music Award (DMA) for “Outstanding Producer”.

After taking 5 years off from the road to help raise his young children, Motor

City Josh is BACK! His latest release FINDING A NEW GEAR (which includes

several co-writes with his wife, Stacia Petrie Ford) packs the punch that his

longtime fans have come to expect! Chock full of humorous lyrics, blazing hot

guitar licks, and a skin tight backing band, FINDING A NEW GEAR is a classic

album from a veteran artist who has finally found his new gear...and, Baby, it’s

WIDE OPEN!!

Awards

1998 Detroit Music Award, Artist Deserving Wider Recognition

2004 Memphis Music Awards, Acoustic Blues Finalist

2010 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Blues & R&B Recording

2011 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Blues & R&B Recording

2011 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Blues & R&B Songwriter

2018 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Record Producer

2020 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Live Performance

2020 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Blues Songwriter

2020 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Blues Artist / Group

2021 Detroit Music Award, Outstanding Record Producer

Notable Appearances

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