Joshua Ray Gooch is a guitarist, songwriter, producer, educator and clinician. He has toured the world with the likes of Shania Twain, Koshi Inaba and Beth Hart. He has recorded with Grammy winning producers Ross Hogarth, Don Gehman and Johnny Sandlin. Joshua has worked as an educator and international clinician for Yamaha Guitar Corporation, Rivera Amplification and Hal Leonard, as well as writing a monthly column in Premier Guitar magazine. Joshua was featured in Koshi Inaba’s-En II: Live at Budokan and Shania Twain’s-Still the One: Live in Vegas, for which he co-wrote the song “Red Storm.” 

The Seattle born guitarist began playing guitar at the age of 13. Shortly thereafter, he became an in demand guitarist in his local scene, capturing the eye of many veteran musicians. After only 3 years of playing, the self taught guitarist was contacted by industry legend Johnny Sandlin–producer of The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Delbert McClinton and many more–after hearing Joshua’s self recorded demo CD. Joshua went on to become Johnny’s house session guitarist, where he recorded with southern rock royalty Bonnie Bramlett, Jimmy Hall and Chuck Leavell. 

In 2009, Joshua was a national finalist in Guitar Center’s King of the Blues competition. That evening he met Robert M. Knight–legendary rock photographer and manager–who began managing Joshua. Not long after they began their professional relationship, Joshua landed his first touring gig with B’z singer, Koshi Inaba. B’z are the highest selling Japanese band in history, selling more than 90 million albums. While on a 3 night run of sold out show’s at Budokan, they filmed what would eventually become the Koshi Inaba-EN II: Live at Budokan DVD. His involvement with Koshi Inaba led to Joshua becoming a guitar superstar in Asia. In 2011, he toured both Japan and Thailand headlining sold out solo clinics in most major cities. 

In 2013, Joshua toured Europe with Grammy nominated artist Beth Hart filling in for guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa after their recent collaboration Don’t Explain. That same year, Joshua landed the coveted position as lead guitarist for Shania Twain, one of the highest selling female artists of all time with over 100 million album sales. Shania said of Joshua, “I cannot believe his talent, he’s a very extraordinary musician and I am proud and privileged to have him in my band.” He spent the next two years playing with Shania during her residency at the Colliseum at Caesar’s Palace. During this time Joshua was featured in the Shania Twain-Still the One: Live in Vegas CD and DVD, where Joshua co-wrote the song “Red Storm.” In 2015, Joshua continued his work with Shania on her Rock This Country tour, the 10th highest grossing tour of 2015.

Joshua has also worked with a variety of TV shows. He was in the house band for both America’s Got Talent and Glee, as well as performing as a “stunt” guitarist, songwriter and session guitarist on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

In 2015, Joshua was approached by Hal Leonard, one of the world’s foremost music publishing companies to write an innovative instruction book/DVD. It was internationally released in the fall of 2015 and has received critical acclaim for its unique approach to improvisation. In response to the success of his Hal Leonard book Lead Guitar Licks: The Basics and Beyond, he began writing a monthly column for Premier Guitar magazine.