The Joseph Sisters

SNOWSHOE — As natives of Wheeling, the harmonizing trio the Joseph Sisters have had the opportunity to open for some pretty big names in country music, including the Oak Ridge Boys.

“That’s one of the coolest ones we’ve ever done,” said Shalyn Joseph.

“We got to sing at the old Capitol Music Hall. It brought back history. We grew up around it. To sing there was awesome, and to open for the Oak Ridge Boys was even cooler.”

Shalyn and her sister Marybeth took time out during the group’s summer fairs and festivals tour for a telephone interview. The group also includes a third sister, Jamie.

The band will be making several area appearances in the next few weeks, including at the Rise & Shine Festival at Snowshoe Mountain Resort that takes place July 17 to 19.

The Joseph Sisters will play at 5 p.m. July 18 at that event, which will be headlined by country singer Josh Thompson.

Other acts include Waterloo Revival, the Paul Gold Band, Steele Country and Jimmy Nelson & the Cimarron Outlaw Country Band.

This will be the inaugural festival, and the “shine” part of the title comes from the fact that Appalachian whiskey and moonshine will be highlighted and available for tastings.

Also, John Foster of Smooth Ambler Spirits, a Greenbrier County-based distillery, will discuss the tradition and history of making whiskey and moonshine in Appalachia at 3 p.m. July 18.

For the Joseph Sisters, who have been making music together as a trio for about five years, it’s all part of summer.

“We’ve been all over the state of West Virginia,” Marybeth said.

In addition to Snowshoe, the Joseph Sisters will appear at the Lewis County Fair at Jackson’s Mill on July 16, the Pennsboro Fair on July 24, the Monongalia County Fair in Morgantown on July 30, the West Virginia Blackberry Festival in Clarksburg on July 31, the Ritchie County Fair in Harrisville on Aug. 1 and the Mannington District Fair on Aug. 8.

At each stop, the Joseph Sisters will play their genre of “country soul,” including their songs that include “Sisters,” “Dance to Country Soul” and “Your Opinion.”

“We are very soulful, but that song title came from a previous manager,” Shalyn said. “We are country soul with a little bit of pop.”

Two of their favorite songs are “Sisters” and “Your Opinion,” the latter of which emerged after an audience member “gave attitude” during a show.

“We got upset about it and went to a Subway and wrote this whole thing and entitled it ‘Your Opinion,’” Marybeth said. “Our guitar player, Chuck Lucas, helped us with the music with it.”

Marybeth also plays guitar, but the Joseph Sisters travels with a four-piece band who backs them up.

They recorded and self-released their first album, “The Joseph Sisters,” and now they have a second, still-untitled album they recorded in Nashville that they hope to release soon.

Their next step will be to do a radio tour.

The three sisters began singing in church and in school and eventually decided to form a group. The harmonizing came later, especially after the sisters became fans of the Dixie Chicks. The Joseph Sisters list that trio as their major influence.

All three attended college or post-high school training, but not for music, even though they definitely take their trio seriously.

“We still have day jobs because of student loans,” Marybeth said. “But in the summer, this is what we do full time. We’re definitely full time in the summertime.”

For more information about the Rise & Shine Festival, call (877) 441-4386 or www.snowshoemtn.com - Exponent Telegram

Siblings, singers and supporters of a cause, up and coming country trio The Joseph Sisters will sing the National Anthem at the WVU Coliseum Feb. 21, as the Lady Mountaineers tip-off against Iowa State in the annual Play4Kay game.

Wheeling, W.Va., natives The Joseph Sisters, have been immersed in music for as long as they remember. Starting around age 5, the three sisters began honing their musical talents through church and school activities. It wasn’t until July 2011 that the trio decided to embrace their dreams of pursuing a music career, officially labeling themselves The Joseph Sisters. The harmonious group released their debut album, “The Joseph Sisters,” shortly after forming in 2012. The seven-track record features classic country ballads with lyrics that tell tales of a sisterly union, the search for love and dancing the night away. With raw vocals, The Joseph Sisters have seen exponential popularity in the tri-state area. Their ever-growing fan base has allowed the melodious group to open for some of country music’s most popular and modern artists, from Toby Keith and Jerrod Neimann, to Aaron Lewis and Phil Vasser.

Now, working on their second studio album at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, the group continues to embark on their journey to scratch the surface of the country music industry. “Unscripted”, the group’s live DVD, was released a month ago and showcases the group’s unprecedented sound through a mix of 17 original and cover songs.

While The Joseph Sisters are busy prepping for their upcoming summer fairs and festivals tour, the trio no doubt jumped at the opportunity to return to their home state. Before tip-off on Feb. 21, The Joseph Sisters will take to the court’s center to flaunt their dazzling harmonies. The annual Play4Kay event is hosted in conjunction with the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Yow, a former North Carolina State University women’s basketball head coach, passed after her third bout with breast cancer in January 2009. Yow’s dedication to raise money to further research and awareness led to the fund’s establishment in 2007. Since its start, the fund has raised $3.9 million in support of women’s breast cancer research. The Joseph Sisters are all too familiar with the grappling disease.

“Our Aunt Marta had breast cancer, so it’s just kind of important to us because we get to support it in our own way,” said Marybeth Joseph.

“We’re excited to be a part of something that’s really near and dear to our hearts,” said Jamie Joseph.

Although no strangers to the WVU Coliseum, The Joseph Sisters are eager to return to Morgantown to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” yet again. As Mountaineer fans themselves, Shayln, Marybeth and Jamie Joseph said they are more than ready to cheer on the WVU women’s basketball team.

“Our dad raised us as little Mountaineers,” the Joseph sisters said.

“Anytime we can come support the Mountaineers, it is always a good time for us.”

WVU Healthcare has provided free tickets to this game and fans can print them from WVUsports.com/pink. The annual Play4Kay game will begin at noon, with The Joseph Sisters singing the Nation’s Anthem moments before. For more information on The Joseph Sisters, visit http://thejosephsisters.com/. - The Daily Anthenaeum

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Introducing The Joseph Sisters, a country trio of sisters hailing from the Northern Panhandle in West Virginia. The Joseph Sisters made up of Marybeth, Jamie and Shalyn Joseph have been singing together since before they can remember, and aspire to continue to showcase their talents. The Joseph Sisters began singing in front of their parents in the living room of their home, moved on to singing in the choir while in middle and high school, and have now decided to begin singing professionally. In past years, the Sisters have showcased their talents all over the Ohio Valley, including opening for Toby Keith and Trace Adkins at Jamboree in the Hills 2013.

The Joseph Sisters bring unique harmonies to everything they sing, with each sister bringing their own distinct sound creating their own twist on classic country covers, as well as writing some of their own music. Last year, The Joseph Sisters traveled to Nashville to record their second album at Oceanway Studios, which will be released at a later date, and have recently released a live DVD, recorded at the Wheeling Island Racetrack and Casino. The DVD features live covers from country artists such as, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town and Fleetwood Mac, and a few of their own songs. When talking about their up-coming album, Jamie Joseph mentioned that there is a song that everyone can relate to. "From our beautiful ballad Light of the Moon, to our going out on the town anthem, Wrong, our music offers upbeat lyrics that portray each of our different personalities."
Article Photos

Beginning this May at the Headliners Stage in Washington, PA, The Joseph Sisters will kick off their spring and summer fairs and festivals tour that goes through the end of September. Eldest sister, Mary Beth Joseph said that the group is the most excited for the Barbour Country Fair on Sept. 5, in Belington, WV. "We will be opening up in Barbour County for RaeLynn, a rising, female country sensation, who got her start on The Voice."

The Joseph Sisters agree that there are some extremely talented leading lady musicians in country music today. Youngest sister, Shalyn Joseph said, "It's nice to be able to contribute our music to that audience. We are so excited for this summer to start, and can't wait to get our music out there.

For more information on The Joseph Sisters, visit their website www.thejosephsisters.com or contact Hannah Bass at hbass@bluesalleymusic.com or 304-780-9477. You can also find The Joseph Sisters on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. - Graffiti