Doyle Lawson

Biographies - Josh Swift

I was born on September 25, 1986, to Randy and Rhonda Swift. I started playing drums when I was 2 years old, and by the time I was 6, I was out on the road every weekend traveling with my family, and I continued to play Southern Gospel music for many years.

When I was 16, I was playing a session when I saw a Dobro for the first time. I had no idea what the instrument was, or what God had in mind for my future. I was �struck� by this instrument and I really wanted one! At age 17, �Gibson Guitars gave me my first Dobro! Two weeks after they gave me the Dobro, I recorded my first song with it. I kept traveling and playing drums with my family until my 18th birthday.

I met a mountain gospel group called �Set Apart� and soon hit the road with them. While I was with them, I found the love of my life, Tobi Looper. We had been childhood sweethearts, but I had not seen her since her family moved away 12 years earlier. I traveled with Set Apart for a year, and then decided to leave to group. No less than 2 hours after I left them, I was offered a job with a new band, Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain. The band had a great debut and I met a lot of new people. Due to a conflict of interest, I left the band after a year, in August 2007. I felt bad at the time, but leaving turned into a huge blessing!
A few weeks later, I was jamming with some friends in Gatlinburg, TN, when Doyle Lawson and the guys in his band walked up. I was SHOCKED! I had no idea how much Doyle liked my playing, but I soon found out. Darren Beachley called a week later, and asked me to jam at IBMA, and of course I said yes! I had no idea that �the jam� was going to be a showcase at IBMA. I played with the band dressed in my casual attire, while they were all dressed up in suits. After the show, Doyle walked up to me and simply said, �Do you want to go to Texas?� I said, �YES!� and the rest is history.

I can�t believe how much God has blessed me. I have a great job, great co-workers, a loving family, a loving woman, great health and so many other things! I hope I never fail to give Him to glory for it all.