Joshua, whose voice bears a remarkable resemblance to that of the late Ms. Jackson, has performed in concert halls, synagogues, churches, and at various outdoor venues, both solo and with such musical luminaries as Wynton Marsalis, Billy Preston, Aretha Franklin, and Stephanie Mills; Gospel greats Albertina Walker, the Barret Sisters, Hezekiah Walker, Dorothy Norwood, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Reverend Timothy Wright, and Bobby Jones & New Life; blues singer Carrie Smith; and late jazz greats Cab Calloway and Dizzy Gillespie, among others.Highlights of Joshua's brilliant career include recording "How I Got Over," a Mahalia Jackson staple, at age 13; singing at the request of the Vaughan family at the funeral of legendary jazz diva Sarah Vaughan, at age 15; and singing at New York City's Lincoln Center in the 1993 JVC Jazz Festival, thus maintaining his special link with Mahalia Jackson, whose appearance in the 1958 Newport Festival introduced Gospel music to a deeply appreciative audience. In 1995, Joshua and Mahalia's pianist, Eddie Robinson (who performed together extensively) accepted an award on behalf of Ms. Jackson for her induction into the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1998, Joshua was selected to honor Ms. Jackson in her hometown of New Orleans, LA, where the National Postal Service unveiled its series of Gospel music stamps honoring Mahalia, Clara Ward, Rosetta Thorpe and Roberta Martin.

Joshua recently embarked on an extensive European tour that included stops in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, and Germany, where he performed to standing-room-only audiences. He toured Israel (performing in perfect Hebrew as well as English) and had the opportunity to sing "Hatikvah," the Israeli national anthem, at Binyanei Ha'uma Hall in Jerusalem for an audience that included the President of Israel. In 1999, he was a featured artist at the Azusa Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event became the live recording of Carlton Pearson Live at Azusa 3. Joshua's rendition of "How I Go Ovr" became one of the most requested songs on radio stations all over the country. "How I Got Over" became the driving force for the album, which ultimately sold over 150,000 copies, and was nominated for both the Gospel industry's Stellar Award and a Grammy Award.

In 1999 Joshua sang at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden (to an audience of 30,000) backed by a 5,500-voice choir, full string orchestra, and band. A Swedish newspaper reported that audience members unfamiliar with the genre music were uplifted, and that several people were reportedly healed of sickness by the mere sound of his voice. In 2001, he sang before the Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, and various officials at the opening of the Padei Institute for Jewish Studies. He was made an Official "Ambassador of Peace through Song" by the Swedish government. Also in 1999, he performed before Bill Clinton (and an audience of 10,000) in Selma, Alabama, as the President delivered an address at the Commemoration of "Bloody Sunday," in recognition of the Voters Rights Act of 1965.

Keep on Walking, a recently released 60 minutes documentary film on Mr. Nelson, tells the story of this unique artist's ability to blend the cultural and religious aspects of his life evoking the spirit of the great Mahalia Jackson while taking audiences by storm. The film has been aired on national television in Sweden, Denmark, Japan, France, Israel, and Italy. Still in its infancy, it has already garnered awards at various film festivals, most notably the prestigious Rhode Island Film Festival where it won the award for Best Film.

Joshua's television credits include A+ for Kids on WWOR-TV, with Savion Glover for the Great, Great Kids series; SingSation, a Gospel program taped in Chicago and broadcast nationally on CBS-TV (1995-1997); and Black Entertainment Television's Bobby Jones Gospel (1995-2000). While still in high school, Joshua organized a choir, which provided the music for the WWOR-TV video, volunteering: A Gift of Time, sponsored by PSE&G (1992). The video debuted in Trenton, where the group performed for then Governor Jim Florio.

Locally, Joshua performed before Collette Avital (then American Ambassador to Israel) and Gov. Christine Todd Whitman at the City of Newark's annual Holocaust commemoration in 1996. The star-Ledger noted: "Spiritual singer Joshua Nelson, a well traveled performer, had sung early in the program. But the Governor wanted to hear him again. Just as Whitman spoke, Nelson broke into a chorus of the Jewish song 'Ani Maamin', which translates, as "I believe."

Joshua presents an annual tribute to Mahalia Jackson, performing with her pianist, Edward Robinson, which attracts up to 3,000 people yearly (1992-2000). He opened for Aretha Franklin in two performances of her Gospel Crusade Against Aids, at Lincoln Center in June of 1997. Local papers reported: "Joshua Nelson declaimed spirituals in a film, sustained style derived from Mahalia Jackson." He has also performed at Ms. Franklin's church, New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, along with Gospel artist Bobby Jones and Tremaine Hawkins, R&B songstress Stephanie Mills, and others.

Joshua Nelson graduated for Newark's Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey, a school that also produced noteworthy graduates like the late Sarah Vaughan, Melba Moore, Andy Bey, Tisha Campbell, Frankie Negron, and Savion Glover. Joshua was the school's official soloist for the four years he studied there. He currently serves as the Minister of Music at Hopewell Baptist Church in Newark, NJ.

Joshua has conducted extensive research on Mahalia Jackson and on the other Gospel luminaries, and has presented seminars on the history of Gospel music to young audiences. He is a proponent of preserving traditional Gospel music and travels worldwide performing the music in its original form. His cultural and religious background and extensive travels through Israel influenced him to create a new form of music, blending Jewish Liturgical and African American musical styles. Through his unique talent, electrifying performances and profound commitment to spiritual music, Joshua is converting new listeners everywhere. In his own words: "I want to take this music all around the world to al types of audiences in its original form. I want to let people hear it and realize that it is not just good to listen to - it is good for the soul.

Entertainers, Celebrity