Joshua Nelson Biography

Joshua has executed in concert halls, synagogues, churches, and at various outdoor events, both solo with such musical notables as Wynton Marsalis, Billy Preston, Aretha Franklin, as well as Stephanie Mills; gospel greats Albertina Walker, the Barret Sisters, Hezekiah Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Reverend Timothy Wright, and Bobby Jones & New Life; blues singer Carrie Smith; gospel greats Albertina Walker, the Barret Sister Joshua's brilliant career highlights include recording How I Got Over, a Mahalia Jackson staple, when he was 13 years old. At the request of the Vaughan family, he sang at the funeral of legendary jazz diva Sarah Vaughan at the age of 15; and in the 1993 JVC Jazz Festival at New York City's Lincoln Center, he maintained his special link with Mahalia Jackson, whose appearance in the 1958 Newport Festival introduced Gospel music to a deeply adoring crowd. In 1995, Joshua and Mahalia's pianist, Eddie Robinson (who performed extensively with Ms. Jackson), acknowledged an award on her behalf for her induction into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joshua was chosen to be honoured in 1998. Ms. Jackson was honoured by the National Postal Service with a series of Gospel music stamps honouring Mahalia, Clara Ward, Rosetta Thorpe, and Roberta Martin in her hometown of New Orleans, LA. Joshua recently completed a European tour that also included stops in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, and Germany, where he performed to standing-room-only crowds. He travelled Israel, performing in both Hebrew and English, and had the advantage to sing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, in front of an audience that included Israel's President, at Binyanei Ha'uma Hall in Jerusalem. He was a guest artist at the Azusa Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1999. Joshua was chosen to honour Ms. Jackson in her hometown of New Orleans, LA, where the National Postal Service debuted its series of Gospel music stamps honouring Mahalia, Clara Ward, Rosetta Thorpe, and Roberta Martin.Joshua recently completed a European tour that included stops in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, and Germany, where he performed to standing-room-only crowds. He toured Israel, performing in both Hebrew and English, and had the opportunity to sing Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, in front of an audience that included Israel's President, at Binyanei Ha'uma Hall in Jerusalem. He was a featured artist at the Azusa Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1999. Carlton Pearson Live at Azusa 3 was born from this event. Joshua's version of How I Go Ovr quickly became one of the most requested songs on radio stations across the country. How I Got Over became the album's driving force, selling over 150,000 copies and earning nominations for both the Gospel industry's Stellar Award and a Grammy Award. Joshua performed in front of 30,000 people at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1999, accompanied by a 5,500-voice choir, full string orchestra, and band. According to a Swedish newspaper, audience members who were unfamiliar with the genre music were uplifted, and several people were reportedly healed of illness by the mere sound of his voice. In 2001, he performed in front of Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson and other dignitaries at the opening of the Padei Institute for Jewish Studies. The Swedish government designated him as an Official Ambassador of Peace through Song. In addition, in 1999, he performed in front of Bill Clinton (and a crowd of 10,000) in Selma, Alabama, as the President delivered an address at the Commemoration of Bloody Sunday in recognition of the Voters Rights Act of 1965. Keep on Walking, a 60-minute documentary film about Mr. Nelson, tells the storey of this one-of-a-kind artist's ability to blend cultural and religious aspects of his life while channelling the spirit of the great Mahalia Jackson and taking audiences by storm. National television broadcasts of the film have occurred in Sweden, Denmark, Japan, France, Israel, and Italy. Even though it is still in its early stages, it has already won awards at various film festivals, most notably the prestigious Rhode Island Film Festival, where it won Best Film. Joshua's television credits include A+ for Kids on WWOR-TV, where he collaborated with Savion Glover for the Great, Great Kids series; SingSation, a Gospel programme taped in Chicago and broadcast nationally on CBS-TV (1995-1997); and Bobby Jones Gospel on Black Entertainment Television (1995-2000). Joshua organised a choir while still in high school, which provided the music for the WWOR-TV video, Volunteering: A Gift of Time, sponsored by PSE&G. (1992). The video was first shown in Trenton, where the group performed for then-Governor Jim Florio. Joshua performed in front of Collette Avital in his hometown (then American Ambassador to Israel) In 1996, Gov. Christine Todd Whitman spoke at the City of Newark's annual Holocaust commemoration. According to the Star-Ledger, spiritual singer Joshua Nelson, a well-known performer, had sung early in the programme. The Governor, on the other hand, wanted to hear him again. Just as Whitman finished speaking, Nelson burst into a chorus of the Jewish song 'Ani Maamin,' which, as I recall, translates as "Ani Maamin, Ani Maamin, Ani Maamin, Ani Maamin, Ani Maamin, Ani Maamin
Joshua performs an annual tribute to Mahalia Jackson with her pianist, Edward Robinson, which draws up to 3,000 people each year (1992-2000). In June 1997, he opened for Aretha Franklin in two performances of her Gospel Crusade Against Aids at Lincoln Center. According to local newspapers, Joshua Nelson declaimed spirituals in a film in a style influenced by Mahalia Jackson. He has also performed at Ms. Franklin's church, New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, alongside Gospel singers Bobby Jones and Tremaine Hawkins, R&B singer Stephanie Mills, and others. Joshua Nelson graduated from Newark's Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey, alongside notable graduates such as the late Sarah Vaughan, Melba Moore, Andy Bey, Tisha Campbell, Frankie Negron, and Savion Glover. During his four years at the school, Joshua was the official soloist. He is currently the Minister of Music at Hopewell Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Joshua has done extensive research on Mahalia Jackson and other Gospel luminaries, and he has given seminars to young audiences about the history of Gospel music. He is an advocate for the preservation of traditional Gospel music and travels the world performing it in its original form. His cultural and religious background, as well as extensive travels through Israel, influenced him to create a new musical style that blended Jewish Liturgical and African American musical styles. Joshua is converting new listeners all over the world with his unique talent, electrifying performances, and profound commitment to spiritual music. In his own words, "I want to bring this music to all types of audiences all over the world in its original form." I want people to hear it and realise that it is not only enjoyable to listen to, but it is also beneficial to their health.

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