Editing Josh Ritter (section)

== Early life ==
Ritter was born on October 21, 1976, in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]], [[Idaho]], to Robert and Sue Ritter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Solan |first1=Alan |title=Josh Ritter thanks his 'lucky stars' |url=https://dnews.com/local/josh-ritter-thanks-his-lucky-stars/article_6cd30ec5-cea4-579d-9190-89d1678e241f.html |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |date=14 October 2004}}</ref> His fascination with music began when he first heard [[Johnny Cash]] and [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[Girl from the North Country]]" on his parents' copy of ''[[Nashville Skyline]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Castillo |first1=Piper |title=Josh Ritter talks Bob Dylan, the history of folk and his favorite bookstore |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2011/11/08/josh-ritter-talks-bob-dylan-the-history-of-folk-and-his-favorite-bookstore/ |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=9 November 2011}}</ref> and he purchased his first guitar at a local [[Kmart (United States)|K-Mart]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smyers |first1=Darryl |title=Q&A: Josh Ritter |url=https://lonestarmusicmagazine.com/q-josh-ritter/ |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Lone Star Music Magazine |date=17 October 2016}}</ref> After graduating from [[Moscow High School]] in 1995, Ritter attended [[Oberlin College]] in [[Oberlin, Ohio|Oberlin]], [[Ohio]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Moscow's star returns home: Josh Ritter finds growing success with release of "The Historic Conquests of Josh Ritter" |newspaper=Moscow-Pullman Daily News |last=Drawhorn |first=Omie |date=January 17, 2008 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2026&dat=20080117&id=MNsyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2591,2022263}}</ref> He initially enrolled in Oberlin's [[neuroscience]] program, as his parents were both neuroscientists, but he later created the independent major "American History Through Narrative Folk Music."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Weinstein|first1=Elizabeth|title=Another Chapter for Josh Ritter '99|url=http://oberlin.edu/alummag/summer2011/features/ritter.html|website=Oberlin Alumni Magazine|access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref> At the age of 21, Ritter recorded his [[Josh Ritter (album)|self-titled]] debut album at a recording studio on campus.

Following his graduation from Oberlin, Ritter moved to [[Scotland]], where he attended the [[School of Scottish Studies]] for six months.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frye |first1=Selena |title=Josh Ritter: A few words with the bard in his prime |url=https://archive.louisville.com/content/josh-ritter-few-words-bard-his-prime-music |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Louisville |date=9 May 2010}}</ref> From there, he moved to [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[Rhode Island]], working odd jobs and playing [[open mic]]s in [[Boston]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jackson |first1=Josh |title=Josh Ritter: Songs for Days of Doubt |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/josh-ritter/josh-ritter/ |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Paste Magazine |date=31 May 2006}}</ref> It was at one such open mic that he met Irish musician [[Glen Hansard]], who invited Ritter to [[Ireland]] as an opening act for his band, [[The Frames]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Auerbach |first1=Brad |title=Josh Ritter Discusses Ireland, His New Album, His Experience In The Business And The Digital Tip Jar |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradauerbach/2018/01/04/josh-ritter-discusses-ireland-his-new-album-his-experience-in-the-business-and-the-digital-tip-jar/?sh=6b20276a3740 |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Forbes Magazine |date=4 January 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Josh Ritter Performance.jpg|thumb|Josh Ritter at the Music Farm in Charleston, SC on 07-26-2011]]