Josh Harty Returns

Sometimes we need to sacrifice something and take a risk.
Josh Harty had to leave college to be able to travel with his band, and life paid him back for his courage and devotion.
“I am just lucky”, Harty said modestly. But the reason for his success was the talent and hard work of this young musician raised in Fargo.

Josh was born in Fargo, where he spent the first 26 years of his life. He is currently living in Madison, Wis.
At the age of five he began to play music together with his father. He especially enjoyed playing the guitar. “It is something that I grew up doing, so I have never really thought not to do it,” explained Harty, who cannot conceive of life without music.

At school he played in different small bands that collapsed as quickly as they emerged.

Garden Party was his first big band. Though there were only six members in the group, it taught Harty how to collaborate in a team of musicians. He played the guitar, sang in the band and composed the lyrics for his songs.
“Garden Party gave me a chance to play the music I liked,” said Harty.

At first, he enjoyed rock & roll. His preferences changed as time passed. “Now my music is more mature and not quite as rowdy as it was before.”

When talking about Fargo, Harty’s voice lowers. It is impossible not to notice that he really misses his native town and the people of Fargo.

Harty used to play in different cafés and colleges. Especially, he liked the atmosphere that reigned in the Empire.
“This café on Broadway was kind of dark and I enjoyed performing there a lot,” he said.

Josh also liked the place called “The Coaches.” It doesn’t exist anymore. He can’t help feeling nostalgic for the old Fargo, his Fargo. “Now it is completely different, but anyway, I enjoy coming back.”

He also performed in different colleges while studying at North Dakota State University.

He never hesitated when choosing a major. the question didn’t occur to him. Music was the only thing that he wanted to do with his life, all his life.

Harty decided to major in music education in order to pass his skills to future students. He’d completed only half of his degree when his band decided to travel and perform all over the country, which definitely appealed to the young singer and song writer.

“I thought I would be a music teacher. But I had one or the other to choose from,” said Harty, “I knew that I could not have both.” And Harty decided to stop going to school but to travel with Garden Party. Later he left the band and continued traveling on his own.

Now he can say for sure that it was the right decision to make.

When Harty was 23 years old he performed on the same stage as B.B King. However, he is not boastful about it at all.

“B.B King left just after he performed. We did not have a chance to talk or anything,” Harty said modestly, as though he did not think that playing with the blues star was a big deal.

Josh Harty experienced on his own the difficulties that almost all musicians face. He advises all music majors to be ready to encounter a lot of obstacles on their way to success.

“It is difficult to devote yourself to music completely. It is not paid very well unless you are very lucky,” he admitted.

Harty is very excited about performing in his hometown on Friday. He is not touring with his band. “There will be only me and my guitar”, said Harty, “I hope people will come and enjoy a lot of new music.”

“Playing at home is better, he said, “and much more comfortable” than in any other place.
He left Fargo five years ago. It will be his home town forever.