Josh Blakesley
Josh Blakesley believes his calling is to make music that moves people into prayer and action. Since the release of his debut album in 2003, he has become a mainstay in Catholic Christian music as an artist, composer, producer, and worship leader.
"I started leading worship when I was about 15 years old," Josh says. "A close friend of mine had just died, and it rocked our small community. There was a deep need for spiritual healing and answers to life's most difficult questions. I was simply a friend who knew how to play guitar. I had deep spiritual questions of my own, and a strong desire to ask them. It felt natural to go through the healing process with my friends and let music be a source of communication with God. I wasn't sure how to draw a group of people into the presence of God with a guitar and a song, so I dove in deep. With a heart on fire for answers to difficult, existential uncertainties, I left my high school garage band behind and poured everything into faith and music.
"When I lead worship today; whether it's for a small prayer meeting at someone's house, or in front of the Blessed Sacrament with thousands in attendance, it's simply a continuation of the prayer that began all those years ago. I rarely feel worthy to do it. In fact, I find myself leaning on those liturgical words more often than I care to admit: 'Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.' I really believe the call is as simple now as it was then. The Lord says to so many of us, 'You have a guitar, you can carry a tune. Will you serve?'"
A seasoned live performer and presenter, Josh has led worship at Steubenville Conferences, Life Teen events, World Youth Day events, the National Eucharistic Congress (2024), international festivals and papal events, NFCYM conferences, and 30–50 engagements annually worldwide. He has made numerous appearances on SiriusXM, K-LOVE, and EWTN, and has served as a music director and worship leader in diocesan, parish, and youth ministry settings for over 30 years.
Josh is currently the music ministry director for St. Faustina Catholic Church outside Houston, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Heather Blakesley, and their two children, Sophie and Sutton.