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In the winter of 2001 Joshua Pinkham picked up the mandolin and learned his first scale and tune, and since then, he has improved exponentially;  with an impressive repertoire of tunes ranging from Old Time, Bluegrass, Fiddle tunes, Dawg, Jazz, Classical and Brazilian choros. Josh’s first experience as a musician was with the drums, he is essentially a drummer turned mandolinist! He played the drums for 4 years, from the time he was 8 years old until he was 12. As a member of his family band, he played the drums at regular club gig a year when he was eleven. He also did a tour with his dad, mom and bassist, Patrick Bettison of Acoustic Alchemy.

Once he started playing the mandolin, Josh discovered a whole new passion. After only a few months, he began conceptualizing how to improvise over chord changes. His years of funky R&B drumming established the perfect foundation for laying down lines of notes in sophisticated rhythmic patterns and with real feel.

By age 13, Josh was the Florida state mandolin champion, placed 3rd at the Merlefest Mandolin contest, and has performed on stage with most of his mandolin heroes, including Mike Marshall, David Grisman and Chris Thile. He has played with guitarists Tony Rice and David Grier. He also performed on stage with fiddle greats Darol Anger, Vassar Clements and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek. Josh has been a performing member of Grammy winner, Jim Lauderdale's bluegrass group at many festivals as well.

Josh comes from a long line of musical heritage and history. Josh’s mother, Terry, was signed with Mercury/Polygram Records in the 1990's as a vocalist. His maternal great-grandfather was the legendary Benny Thomason, a master fiddler whom Mark O' Conner lists as his mentor and main influence. Josh's grandfather Jerry Thomason is legendary in his own right as a master of the tenor guitar. Josh’s father, Jeff, played mandolin on the Billboard #1 CBS/Sony hit song of the mid eighties "Key Largo" and has toured and recorded with numerous major labels on guitar and mandolin.  His paternal great-grandfather was first cousins with A.P. Carter of the famed Carter Family, and had played in bands with A.P. in the 1930's on fiddle and guitar.

Josh's family tree and performances and contests have never made him take his talent for granted. He studies and practices the mandolin with an earnest true respect for the instrument and approaches his art with a passionate vigor that inspires all who come in contact with him.

Josh does not see himself as a prodigy or anything particularly special. He simply wants to be a great mandolin player... a musician in the truest sense.