Born in Crystal City, Missouri-Josh Pruno has always been a dreamer. Idolizing his Father who was a local legend in the baseball community, Josh thought his future would be on the diamond. "Dad took over the head baseball coaching position at Maryville University when I was about 12 or 13. He would wake me up at 5:00 am every Saturday morning and drag me off to practice with his college team. He would tell his team to treat me just like any other player, and if they were to take it easy on me, they would pay for it. It was like getting thrown into the fire. I took plenty of lumps but learned so many lessons!"
Soon after, it was his Fathers college players who were taking there share of lumps. "I remember going 3-3 in a inter-squad game and after it was over, the pitcher quit. he couldn't get over a 13 year old getting a few hits off of him." Josh continued to practice with his Dads team, and his 'dream' of playing professional ball looked more and more like a reality. Josh's Senior year of High School, a local scout for the Philadelphia Phillies took a real liking to the young shortstop. Suggesting that he get stronger, he recommended a year of junior college baseball. Josh signed on to play at his Fathers alma matter, Jefferson College in southern Missouri.
Josh was the only Freshman starter on the field opening day. Striving toward his dream, the first detour would occur. Josh would break his foot just a few games into the season rounding first base, and would have to sit out the remainder of the year. With speed being his game, it would take a full year to recover. Nearly a full year later, just a few days before his second season of college was to begin, another setback. While playing a 'competitive' game of Ping-Pong, Josh would break the same foot. "Anyone who knows me, knows I am the most competitive person in the world. I was playing my best friend, and it was a best of 3 series. We were tied a game a piece, when he went up 5-0 in the third game. The next point, I go up to slam one, and while coming down I hear a crack in my foot. I told him that I just broke my foot again, but he wanted none of it. He said I was making excuses. Therefore, like some made for TV movie, I come back on one foot and beat him! Afterwards, I drove to the hospital and ended up having surgery later that same day. The bone was too weak, and not healing. They placed a screw that runs from my heel all the way up into my pinkie toe."
Josh would have to sit out yet another year. It was at this time Josh started really thinking about his future. Along with baseball, the only other passion Josh ever had was music. Having sang in choir all through school, Josh had recently taught himself to play guitar. "I always loved singing, and I learned early on if I could also play the guitar a little bit, the girls 'dug' it." Having to sit out the second season, in as many years, Josh began playing wherever he could. "I brought my guitar on every road trip we went. I remember sitting in the back of the bus playing and singing all the way to Panama City for spring training." Going into his third year, Josh was hoping for just one healthy season. He also was realizing that his love of baseball was being overtaken by a love of music. Josh would have a healthy season, in fact leading his team in starts, hits, home-runs, and games played. Still he knew that his season, no matter how good it was, would be his last.
Along with playing baseball, he started playing gigs at local clubs. "I started playing these acoustic shows on Wednesday, and Friday nights at the local Am-vets, and American Legion halls. it was nothing special, but I was getting paid to play." Josh would start playing music full time. "Once I put down my glove and picked up that guitar, there was no going back. I knew where my future was." After two years of playing music, Josh and his college sweetheart would head for Music City. "Brooke was there from the beginning and knew what a dreamer I was. She believed in me just as much as i believed in myself. Not that I'm superstitious....., but my favorite number has always been 2. It was the number I wore all throughout my career, so it was only fitting that Brooke and I get married Nov. 2, 2002. We were married on a Saturday and moved to Nashville the next day. We had nothing, but a dream. "I was so naive when we first moved to town. I was drawing such a good crowd back home, I just knew I would roll into town and be touring within a few short months. Boy, was I in for a reality check."
Josh and Brooke would move back to Missouri within three short years. Living back in Missouri was both the best and worst thing that could have happened to Josh. Josh would start playing music right away. Once again picking up where he left off. "When I got back home, I got a call asking if I could fill in for a band that first Saturday night. That one gig, turned into pretty much every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday there after." Josh had what many people thought was all he'd need. A house in the town he was once the Homecoming King, his family close by, a gig every weekend playing to crowded clubs, etc.... Still something was missing. "Brooke and I were going through a tough stretch in our marriage. We had our first son J.J. (Josh Jr.), and was pregnant with our second son (Samuel). I was gone all the time, and pretty much acting like a fool. I was unhappy, she was unhappy, it was just a mess. Something had to change." Little did he know how much change was coming. "I received an email a few weeks after Sammy was born from a guy named Bob Minner. He grew up in Missouri also and just happened to be playing guitar for Tim Mcgraw. He was looking to do some producing. He had come across some of my stuff, and really believed in what he heard. He invited my family down for dinner at his house, so we could talk about what he was wanting to do. Leaving Bob's that night, Brooke and I looked at each other and knew what we had to do. We went home and told our families we were moving back to Tennessee."
Josh walked away from being that 'big' fish in a small town, to being just 'one more' in a big one. "Everything in my life was telling me to stay in Missouri. I had a good job, a house in my hometown, family close by, a 2 year old and a newborn. So many things telling me I should stay, and nothing but a dream calling me away." Josh would move to Nashville and along with Bob and fellow Dancehall Doctor, Denny Hemingson, would begin to record his first record. Along the way Josh would be introduced to Alex Torrez. A successful musician in his own right, Alex had held pretty much every title music row had to offer. "Alex coming into the picture couldn't have come at a better time. His friendship and knowledge are immeasurable."
With a good team around him the future has never looked brighter. "I couldn't be more excited, about what's down the road. So many people are a part of this. I know all about the 'long-hard -ride,' but what a ride it is. I'm loving every minute." Stay tuned, and spread the word--things are fixin' to get real good.
