Joel Fry

Joel Fry is going to do his part to help bring more people to the church where his mother, Pastor Deb Frysinger is the minister.

His mother says he has been singing gospel, country, and soulful music since he was four years old. And she couldn’t be happier that her son has made the decision to help change the services with his music.

Fry shortened his name from Frysinger when he entered the music field professionally. He says his agents and people in the country music business suggested that “Joel Fry” would be better on covers of released CDs and be better in the promotion of his music. He has recorded a CD called Joel Fry. Although he has not hit the big times yet, many reviewers say he has a voice that needs to be heard.

Three years ago, he spent a year leading the music with is Praise Band at the Christ United Methodist Church in Lehigh.

Fry plans to perform with his new Praise Band on Jan. 16 at his mother’s church, the First Community Congregational Church at 200 Leeland Heights Blvd. in Lehigh.

Fry performing in Orlando. Photo provided

“I play to give back to God for all the blessings and gifts that he has given me. Our goal is to support the message of the day through song and invite the congregation to come alive in the spirit, and feel the spirit of God by joining us in making a joyful noise to God.

“And I believe that music is the universal language to bring people together to do this,” Fry said.

He is in the process of filling a four to six member band and is offering rehearsals at the church from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

Fry believes music has been in his blood since the day he was born on Christmas. He is the only son in a family with four daughters. His mother, now the pastor, was a school teacher specializing in music and his father, a retired command sergeant major in the U.S. Army, instilled the importance of hard work, drive, and dedication into their son at a young age.

When he was 10, he was writing songs and when he became 15, he was playing in local country bands around his hometown of Van Wert, Ohio.

His remarkable talent and captivating stage presence began gaining attention and he found himself opening for acts like Neal McCoy, Chris Ledoux, Diamond Rio, and Kenny Chesney.

He has traveled to many parts of the country and has even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for a Christmas show.

He moved to Nashville in 1999 to follow his dreams and since then, he has performed his unique musical style of “country soul” around Nashville at several events.

Those who have heard him perform say he has a strong, grounded, family background with a wide range of musical influences.

Joel says his musical influences, give him “a very relatable and genuine sound. His musical influences include The Blackwood Brothers, Elvis Presley, Joe Diffie, Garth Brooks, Billy Joe, Steve Wariner, Huey Lewis, ZZ Top and Harry Connick Jr.

Joel says there are many things he want to with his life but one of the most important is making an impact through his music.

“Whether it’s making someone laugh when they don’t feel they can, making someone cry when they have been holding it in, or making someone think when they hadn’t done so in a while; I want to make a difference with my music,” he said.

Joel says he would like for those who would like to become part of the Praise Band to contact the First Congregational Church to set up rehearsals.