It’s a big boy dream, going to Nashville to break into the country music industry, but that’s what a 17-year-old Gage Joseph insisted was in his future. He wasn’t being cocky either; just a kid dreaming a kid’s dream. Three years ago.
He told anyone who asked he’d be following Brad Paisley to Belmont College after high school to go do Brad Paisley things like getting discovered and living a singer/songwriter’s life in a place called “Music City.”
“If I can be a national act that is touring the country, I would absolutely love to do that. If people love my music to that extent, I won’t stop until I get there,” is what he’d tell people about three years ago. “Honestly, that is the big dream.”
Now, if you ask him the same question today, his answer is the same … but these days it comes out much differently. Joseph is a local nursing student and has slowed his performance schedule right now to just weekends to focus on his classes throughout the week.
“No one ever really knows how it all happens as far as hitting it big, if it happens at all, so getting my education in a field my mother’s been in for so long is what I’m concentrating on right now because I have to have something. I have to have a base so I can chase my dreams,” he said. “And hey, if I fall on my butt, I’ll need something to fall back on.
“I really need to get through college first before I do anything massive in terms of moving, in terms of trying to reach out with another artist to try to do a tour with them, trying to ride along with somebody. I have to finish college first,” the 20-year-old said. “And I don’t think George Strait got discovered until he was 29, so I have plenty of time.”
It’s a different world these days, though, what with the internet and all of the different social media platforms, so “getting discovered” can happen in a lot of different ways. Sure, it’s super cool he’s playing a Capitol Ballroom show from 5-7 p.m. on February 17th for the pre-show for superstar Lee Brice, but a perfect is example is singer/songwriter Oliver Anthony and his hit song, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” and how the smash hit tune changed his life forever.
“The internet can get you discovered for sure, but sometimes getting discovered can happen too quickly because you’re not prepared for it,” explained Jon Banco, a local musician who also works with Oglebay as a coordinator of special events and entertainment. “And it’s always a good idea to have a good job to fall back on and see what happens. Gage will continue playing. He’s not going anywhere. He’s just being responsible like a young man should.”
Local Famous
And then all of a sudden, Gage Joseph was singing the National Anthem in Wheeling, Moundsville, and everywhere because he was a young man with that voice.
Joseph began singing The Star Spangled Banner for groups and small functions when he was just 14 years old and then he began performing country cover songs a year later. And yes, while he was too young to consume alcoholic beverages, audience members from throughout the valley region enjoyed libations while singing along.
“When you first start playing music, it all comes really, really easy and really, really fast,” recalled Joseph, who will join Billie Jo Jones as a featured performer during Oglebay’s Winterfest on January 27 at the Pine Room. “Everything starts getting like, okay, hey, do this, do that, do this, do that, and once you start getting in there and you got your foot in the door at local places, it’s real easy to dream, too. But after a few years and talking to a lot of people, I’ve come to realize there’s plenty of time for me to achieve my goals.
“I have a music book that has all of the songs I’ve written in it, and yeah, there’s a lot of crap in there. But there’s a lot of good stuff in there, too, so when and if something big does happen for me, at least I’ll be ready,” he said with a smile. “Gotta be ready, right?”
So, yeah, the dream is the dream, and when he’s asked to explain it he may just tell you about a single moment, but Joseph admits it’s not that simple. He’s visited Nashville, knows about the honky tonk circuit, done a little singing, and even met with some folks in the business.
And still.
“I wanna play the Grand Ole Opry once in my life. That’s the dream.”
Wait for it …
“And, yeah, everything that goes with it. Yeah. All of it. That’d be beautiful. That’d be very cool.”
