Editor’s Note: Thirty-six-year-old Josh Thompson has been in Nashville, Tennessee, for about 10 years and has been burning up the highway for the past 6 years, performing his country and western songs all over the nation. Thompson sings country and western music and writes songs for himself and other artists. His goal is to make enough money and also have enough time to go hunting. Thompson says, “I've been hunting all my life, and I'm so proud to be a part of the Mossy Oak Pro Staff.”
I'm often asked, “Josh, what’s in the future for you?” I plan to do one more single from my current album, and I want to keep producing records, traveling the country and putting on shows for the folks who love Mossy Oak and country music. For me, becoming a member of the Mossy Oak Pro Staff is just an extension of my hunting heritage. My grandfather, Dennis Thompson, lived on a 120-acre farm in the upper peninsula of Michigan. I used to go there and hunt small game, deer and bears. Also, I went canoeing, camping and fishing. I was fortunate enough to be raised in the country.
Most of my life I lived in Wisconsin. When I got out of high school, I moved to Michigan for a short time. Then, I moved to Nashville. Some people have asked me, “What was moving from Wisconsin to Nashville, Tennessee, like?” Nashville is really a mixed melting pot for country singers all over the country and the world. Nashville’s country music scene is very welcoming to country artists from many different places. I’ve met plenty of people from Canada, the Midwest, Los Angeles, New York, Alabama, Louisiana and all points on the compass who are singers and songwriters in Nashville.
When I told my dad I was moving to Nashville, he was excited for me, because he didn’t want me to grow up to be a concrete finisher like him. He knew my heart and talent were in country music. Of course my mom, like most moms, was reluctant for me to leave home, because she liked having me there. Although I’m based in Nashville, I spend most of my life on the road.
When I'm asked, “How much do you get to hunt?” My standard answer is, “Not enough.” I have to make time to hunt. But this year, I have 4 days blocked out for elk hunting, 3 days for bear hunting and some time for deer hunts and turkey hunts. I probably have about 2 weeks total to hunt all over the country. The only way I can get that time is to plan months ahead. I have to set hunting as a priority and not let my schedule interfere with my hunting. Sometimes I just get lucky. Maybe, when we’re doing a show in Ohio during the deer rut, I’ll meet some folks who’ll ask me to go hunting with them. I think there's definitely a hunting fan base in country music. I’m certainly not opposed to having someone at one of my shows approaching me and saying, “Hey, if you have some time tomorrow, we’ll go turkey hunting, deer hunting or hunting for anything.”
To learn about me and my music got to www.joshthompsonofficial.com. There you can also see when I’ll be in your area. I’d love to meet you.
Day 2: Josh Thompson: My Big Break Until Today
Tomorrow: Josh Thompson Can’t Think of Anything He’d Rather Do than Sing and Hunt
