Ryan Joseph
Ryan Joseph has been performing since he was 2 ½ years old. Born in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA in 1985, Ryan began with his Grandfather (who was also a fiddler) and his family’s polka band. Ryan was featured in this band, and he was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004 with them. Currently, Ryan can be heard singing and playing on hundreds of tracks on numerous recordings. Ryan appeared on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee when he was 11 years old singing and playing several instruments including fiddle, sax, guitar, bass, and piano. He has kept a busy touring and performance schedule throughout the country through the years performing across the United States, in Europe, and on Caribbean Cruises. Ryan is not afraid of hard work as he also graduated with a 4.0 average and a Music Education degree in 3 ½ years from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA). Ryan loves country music, and after losing his Dad unexpectedly in 2006 he decided to take time to pursue this passion. When he was only 10 years old Ryan had the opportunity to play for renowned fiddle player Mark O’Connor, and this experience changed his life. He has since performed in bands which opened for or performed with country artists such as Bill Anderson, Boots Randolph, Jimmy C. Newman, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, and Ty Herndon. Numerous newspapers, television programs, and radio stations have produced segments on Ryan throughout his career. In fact, Ryan was even noted as an “incredible fiddler” in USA Today by former President and CEO of NARAS Michael Greene stating his wish for more time in the Grammy broadcast to feature talented young artists such as Ryan. In addition, Ryan appeared in a television special featuring Jimmy Sturr which was written and directed by past CMA Awards writer Don Epstein. In more recent years, Ryan has been the primary fiddle session musician in Pittsburgh. Moving to Nashville in May 2007, Ryan became concertmaster of the orchestra at Belmont University where he also started taking Graduate credits and acting as an adjunct faculty member. Ryan also immediately became a member of the staff at the Country Music Hall of Fame, where he is consistently enlightened by the deep history of country music. Ryan has a strong respect for the tradition of country music and all of the artists that have gone before him, including the remarkable fiddle playing artists such as Roy Acuff, Charlie Daniels, Alison Krauss, and Ricky Skaggs. He hopes to continue the legacy of this music through the heritage and musical ideals that were given to him by his Grandfather, and the moral and personal ideals that were given to him by God, his parents, family, and friends.