Josh Damigo

The history of popular music is full of stars who began their careers in the church only to find success in the secular world. Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke all began their careers as gospel singers before bursting out from the choir into mainstream success. Amy Grant began her career in the Christian music genre before finding pop stardom. If Josh Damigo has his way, he'll add a different kind of chapter to the annals of church-bred musicians who find success in the secular world.

While the above legends all found success in R&B and pop after learning about music in the church, Damigo is in the singer-songwriter mold. Born and raised in San Jose, Calif., Damigo grew up in a very strict household. Only allowed to listen to the KFRC, the local oldies station in the Bay Area, he found himself influenced by bands like the Beatles, The Beach Boys, and much of the old-time, lyrically driven style of music.
Damigo's initial introduction to music was fairly ordinary: In first grade, his mother signed him up for piano lessons. "I absolutely hated piano because my teacher kept giving me classical pieces," Damigo said. "I quit when I was in sixth grade." He only quit piano, not music. "At 16, I taught myself to play guitar... Two weeks after that, I had my first show. I was playing at churches. I was mostly singing - I was a much better singer than a guitar player." It was also at this time that he wrote his first song.
Achievements include:

? 2006
- Four San Diego H.A.T Awards for
o Best New Artist
o Best Male Performer
o Best Male Singer/Songwriter
o Best Male Vocalist
- Opens for The Format in San Diego

? 2007
- 6-song Ep (extended play) recorded and released
- First tour route established. Including, Reno, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Modesto, Sacramento, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Tucson.
- Opens for Daphne Loves Derby in San Diego
- Opens for Switchfoot in Santa Barbara
- Opens for Timmy Curran in Santa Barbara

? 2008
- Josh chooses ASCAP as his performing rights organization.
- Opens for Justin Nozuka, Jay Nash, and the Gabe Dixon Band in San Diego
- Opens for Ari Hest in San Diego
- Two more San Diego H.A.T. Awards including:
o Best Male Performer
o Best Male Vocalist
- Headlines the West Beach Music Festival w/ Jason Mraz, Jackie Greene and Kate Voegel in Santa Barbara
- Opens for Greg Laswell in San Diego
- Opens for Matt Nathanson in Santa Barbara
- Opens for the Zac Brown Band in San Diego
- Opens for Josh Gracin in San Diego

? 2009
- A full length acoustic CD recorded and released
- Opens for Ryan Bingham in San Diego
- San Diego Music Award for Best Local Recording
o This very coveted award is voted on by a committee of ?who's who? in San Diego's music scene. Past winners include Switchfoot, Jason Mraz, Blink 182, and Jewel.
- ?Raw? receives moderate rotation on all San Diego local shows, as well as in Santa Barbara and on multiple internet radio stations.
- Opens for the Zac Brown Band and the Green River Ordinance in San Diego
- Opens for Carolina Liar in Santa Barbara
- Headlines the KRUZ 97.5 Christmas Show with the Green River Ordinance and Dominic Balli in Santa Barbara

? 2010
- San Diego Music Award for Best Acoustic Artist
- Records and releases ?Love Again? for the movie ?Bad Faith? (Independent Release)
- First music video made for his song ?Love Again? is released
- First Place for his song ?Love Again? from the International Acoustic Music Awards.
- Signs with SESAC as his new performing rights organization
- Opens for Boyce Avenue in San Diego
- Opens for Joe Pug in San Diego
- Opens for Good Old War in San Diego

? 2011
- Moves to Los Angeles to start work on his new record
- Opens for Sean Mullins in Santa Barbara
- Opens for Tyler Hilton in San Diego
- Opens for He's My Brother, She's My Sister and The Silent Comedy in Santa Barbara
- Cohosts KRUZ 97.5's Interview Marc Broussard
- Plays the Troubadour in Los Angeles
- Successful Midwest Tour including Phoenix, Tucson, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, Durango, Vegas
- Plays the Comic Con, in San Diego


? Other accomplishments include
- Being recognized by the musical community as one of the hardest working songwriter in Southern California
- Showcased on all of San Diego's major network news stations/morning shows
- Interviewed by all of San Diego's major magazines and newspapers, as well as the OC Weekly, The LA Examiner, Las Vegas Sun and the Modesto Bee.

? Josh has been seen on the covers of:
- San Diego Union Tribune, Night and Day
- The San Diego Troubadour (2006)
- Happy Hour Magazine (2010)
- The San Diego Troubadour (2011)

This year marks a new verse in Damigo's Music Career: hitting the road! Keep an eye out for national tour dates and tunes to be recorded for a new release later this year, as this year promises to be the biggest year yet for Josh Damigo.