Josh Farro

{{short description|American guitarist}} {{BLP sources|date=April 2013}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Josh Farro | image = Josh Farro 2008 cropped.jpg | caption = Farro performing with [[Paramore]] in 2008 | birth_name = Joshua Neil Farro | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|09|29|mf=y}} | birth_place = [[Voorhees Township, New Jersey]], U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Jenna Rice|2010}} | genre = {{flatlist| * [[Alternative rock]] * [[pop-punk]] * {{nowrap|[[pop rock]]}} * [[power pop]] * {{nowrap|[[emo pop]]}} * [[emo]] }} | occupation = Musician | instruments = {{flatlist| * Guitar * vocals }} | years_active = 2004–present | current_member_of = {{flatlist| * Farro * Poets and Prophets * The War Within Me }} | past_member_of = {{flatlist| * [[Paramore]] * Novel American }} }}

'''Joshua Neil Farro''' (born September 29, 1987) is an American musician, best known as co-founder, former lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Paramore]]. Since leaving Paramore in 2010, he has pursued a solo career as the lead vocalist and guitarist of his self-named band Farro. His debut solo album, ''Walkways'', was released in 2016.

==Early life== Farro was born in [[Voorhees Township, New Jersey]], on September 29, 1987,<ref>Condran, Ed. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BURB&p_multi=LBCB&p_theme=burb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=110147869FE4E2F0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Paramore movin' up, just not movin' out"], ''Bucks County Courier Times'', February 25, 2006. Accessed March 17, 2011. "The Farro brothers who were born in Williams NJ met Williams four years ago."</ref> the second-oldest of five siblings, including [[Paramore]] drummer [[Zac Farro]]. He is a self-taught guitarist and began playing when he was 13 years old. His family later moved to Franklin, Tennessee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KawUHU9oV6I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/KawUHU9oV6I| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Synthesis.net Paramore Being Crazy 4 Episode #2 |publisher=YouTube |date=November 18, 2007 |access-date=August 14, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Career== [[File:Paramore Josh Farro01.jpg|thumb|left|Farro with Paramore in 2007]]

===Paramore (2004–2010)=== Along with his younger brother [[Zac Farro|Zac]], Farro was a founding member of Paramore, serving as the band's lead guitarist and backing vocalist from 2004 until his exit in late 2010. Farro was credited with co-writing almost every track on Paramore's first three albums.

====Departure and blog controversy==== On December 21, 2010, a blog appeared online claiming to be an official exit statement from the Farro brothers. The blog entry refuted statements made by Paramore's official website regarding the brothers' departure and was heavily critical of [[Hayley Williams]], her family, [[Atlantic Records]], and [[Fueled by Ramen]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Josh |last=Farro |url=http://joshnfarro.blogspot.com/2010/12/josh-and-zacs-exit-statement.html |title=Tetelestai: Josh and Zac's Exit Statement |publisher=Joshnfarro.blogspot.com |date=December 21, 2010 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119165002/http://joshnfarro.blogspot.com/2010/12/josh-and-zacs-exit-statement.html |archive-date=January 19, 2016 }}</ref> Farro appeared in a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=FoDWndy5fOM video] on [[YouTube]] claiming that the blog was genuine. The video was quickly removed for reported violations, but Farro re-uploaded it a few days later.<ref>{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Farro |url=http://joshnfarro.blogspot.com/2010/12/truth.html |title=Tetelestai: The Truth |publisher=Joshnfarro.blogspot.com |date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819030932/http://joshnfarro.blogspot.com/2010/12/truth.html |archive-date=August 19, 2011 }}</ref> Farro, a Christian, cited his and Williams' differing beliefs as a reason for departing Paramore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/paramore-85-1297444|title=Josh Farro claims Paramore lyrics contradicted his faith|last=Parsons|first=Katie|website=[[NME]]|date=April 20, 2011}}</ref>

===Novel American (2011–2014)=== On February 2, 2011, Farro announced he had established a [[Twitter]] account for his new band, Novel American.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michaels |first=Sean |date=2011-02-03 |title=Ex-Paramore guitarist announces new band |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/feb/03/ex-paramore-guitarist-new-band |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657091/exclusive-josh-farro-returns-with-postparamore-band-novel-american.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203081431/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657091/exclusive-josh-farro-returns-with-postparamore-band-novel-american.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 3, 2011 |title=Exclusive: Josh Farro Returns With Post-Paramore Band Novel American |publisher=MTV |date=February 2, 2011 |access-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> The band included high school friends Van Beasley, Tyler Ward, and Ryan Clark, each formerly of the band Cecil Adora. Unlike in Paramore, Farro relegated himself to guitar in the new project, saying, "I never wanted to sing. My voice — and this is not false humility — is just not that good."{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

On February 22, 2011, the band announced Farro's brother [[Zac Farro|Zac]] would replace Tyler Ward on drums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/paramore/55088 |title=Ex-Paramore members Zac and Josh Farro joins forces for new band|publisher=nme.com |date=February 22, 2011 |access-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> However, on May 23, 2014, Farro stated that he had scrapped the project entirely, primarily due to the lack of a suitable vocalist.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

===Farro (2014–2017)=== In May 2014, Farro announced on Twitter that he had scrapped his previous band, Novel American, because "nothing was going anywhere". Later that year, he announced the name of his solo project, Farro. His debut single, "Color Rush", was released in November 2014, with a music video appearing on YouTube. Farro released his debut album, ''Walkways'', independently on February 5, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/walkways/1067913469|title=Walkways by Farro|date=February 5, 2016|via=music.apple.com}}</ref>

He announced a mini tour to support the album throughout the year.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} On May 19, 2017, he announced on Twitter that he is writing for his second album,{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} however there has been no update on a release date since.

=== Poets & Prophets (2018–Present) === On February 6, 2026, it was announced that Farro, alongside Rebekah White Williams, [[Mitch Wong]], and Tommy Iceland had joined to create Poets and Prophets, a [[contemporary Christian music|contemporary Christian]] music [[musical collective|collective]]. They were signed to [[Fair Trade Services]], and their debut single, "Make Room", was released on March 13, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/news/2026/02/06.FairTradeSignsAward-WinningSongwritersWhoFormPoetsandProphets.asp|title=Chart-Topping, Award-Winning Songwriters Rebekah White Williams, Josh Farro, Mitch Wong and Tommy Iceland From Poets & Prophets; Sign With Fair Trade Services|date=2026-02-06|accessdate=2026-02-06|website=Jesus Freak Hideout|agency=Merge PR}}</ref>

==Personal life== On April 3, 2010, Farro married fiancée Jenna Rice in Tennessee, missing [[Paramore]]'s Pacific Rim tour to plan the wedding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paramore.net/blog/a-note-from-josh/ |title=A Note From Josh - Blog Detail |publisher=Paramore.net |date=February 5, 2010 |access-date=August 14, 2011}}</ref> Their daughter was born on January 28, 2018, and their son was born on May 22, 2020.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

He has four siblings, including [[Zac Farro|Zac]]. Farro currently resides in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Walkways'' (2016)

=== With Paramore === * ''[[All We Know Is Falling]]'' (2005) * ''[[Riot!]]'' (2007) * ''[[Brand New Eyes]]'' (2009)

==Other songs== He was one of three co-writers of the song "[[This Is Amazing Grace]]" along with [[Jeremy Riddle]] and [[Phil Wickham]]; the song is featured on both [[Bethel Music]]'s (Bethel Church) live CD/DVD ''[[For the Sake of the World]]'' where Jeremy performed it, as well as on Phil Wickham's album ''The Ascension''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVtLvufkdcE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/SVtLvufkdcE| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace - Behind The Song |publisher=YouTube |date=July 7, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.paramore.net/member/i/19152/ Bio at Paramore.net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120045120/http://www.paramore.net/member/i/19152/ |date=January 20, 2011 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farro, Josh}} [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American people of Italian descent]] [[Category:American rock guitarists]] [[Category:American male guitarists]] [[Category:American lead guitarists]] [[Category:Singers from New Jersey]] [[Category:Paramore members]] [[Category:People from Voorhees Township, New Jersey]] [[Category:21st-century American male singers]] [[Category:Guitarists from New Jersey]] [[Category:21st-century American singers]] [[Category:American Christians]] [[Category:Musicians from Camden County, New Jersey]]