The 9th Annual Josie Music Awards were held in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry on October 22, 2023. The Josie Music Awards are the largest, most respected, revered award and prestigious events and association in the independent music industry. Their theme is "Chase Your Dreams - Be a Part of Something Big."
Taylor Henrly was one of the artists who was chasing his dreams and was part of something BIG on October 22, 2023 at The Grand Ole Opry Stage.
While Taylor is based out of Indiana, he is a well recognized and dynamic presence in the Kentucky music scene, playing about anywhere his new RV and his new band will take him on Kentucky roads. His fan base in Kentucky is vast and appreciative of his musicianship - a high school championship drummer and his singer/songwriting talents. Taylor was nominated for FIVE Josie Music Awards this year, mainly centered around his album "Sidewalk Preacher" - an original song that has become an anthem and them of his life story. His grandparents who adopted him when he was six months old, along with his bass player, Brandon Clem, were in the Grand Ole Opry audience to witness his walk to the Grand Ole Opry Stage and onto the center circle to give his acceptance speech. Introduced by Oak Ridge Boys William Lee Golden, and "Sidewalk Preacher" blasting across the auditorium as he approached the stage, Taylor tells me it was all surreal and that he didn't even hear it when he walked to the stage.
Taylor Hernly is a singer songwriters from Indianapolis, IN who has dedicated his life to traveling the country and playing his songs. Unapologetic, real and unique. Taylor's style draws deeply from his influences The Beatles, Paul Simon, Sturgill Simpson, Black Sabbath and Jim Croce.
Taylor Hernly was born and raised in Mooresville, Indiana, a small town that provided the perfect environment for him to grow up with an enormous passion for music. From a young age, he was always drawn to drums and, at around the age of 10, he showed off natural talent that landed him a kit of his own shortly after.
Within a year of playing, Taylor realized that he had to devote his life to drumming and, impulsively, he dedicated himself to the craft. He performed in all kinds of music groups, ranging from jazz and alternative to metal and punk. Even though he wrote a few of his own songs, he never actively pursued any kind of solo career until brief period in which he went by the stage name of Shasta Sleeves.
It was only after he graduated from high school that the opportunity of playing music full time finally arrived, as he joined Waylon Jennings' grandson, Whey Jennings, as a part of his band. This gig allowed Taylor to tour for the very first time as well as to learn how to make music as a means of living. It was also during this experience that he started taking his own music more seriously, which eventually led him to leave the band to pursue a career of his own.
Throughout his journey, Taylor has played drums for a number of artists. Among the relevant ones are Josh Morningstar, Rumpke Mountain Boys, and the famous David Allan Coe. Today, Taylor is an accomplished musician and he enjoys a solid debut album and a dedicated fanbase.
Nonetheless, Taylor is eager to reach further success and, as such, he is constantly on the road, pushing his music as much as he can. In addition to this, his determination and hard work has recently been recognized, as he was nominated for several Josie Music Awards. In the future, he hopes to keep on touring, recording, and performing with the same passion he had when he first picked up drums at the age of 10.
In addition to winning the Artist of the Year - Multigenre Category at The 9th Annual Josie Music Awards - Taylor Hernly was also nominated in a total of FOUR categories in his first year at The Josie Music Awards.
Congratulations to Taylor Hernly on a fantastic 2023!
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