Coming Soon
The Story Behind
"Gingerbread Man"
About two weeks before the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade in Charlotte, the organizers asked Josh King what song he planned to perform as a featured performer. During the conversation, they mentioned they did not have an original holiday song for the parade and that they could cover a couple of hours of studio time if he wanted to record something local for the broadcast.
Josh took that as a chance to give something back. Charlotte has supported him through Idol, through local shows, and through everyday moments when people have stopped to listen, tip, or cheer him on. So, he sat down and worked nonstop, day and night, shaping a holiday idea he had carried around since he was a kid: a Gingerbread Man who is not running away, but running around, working hard for the people he cares about. A character with motion, personality, and a bit of holiday chaos.
Once the idea clicked, Josh called a few people in his music circle. Legendary bassist and producer Chip Shearin understood immediately what Josh was aiming for. Chip recognized that this was the kind of sound and feeling people needed right now, and he jumped in without hesitation. Within hours, they pulled together musicians, vocalists, and engineers across the country who added keys, guitars, percussion, synths, backing vocals, and the pulse that gives the track its energy. Most of it was recorded remotely across the country by top musicians, while Josh’s vocals and Alec Barbee’s guitar were tracked in a Charlotte studio during the small window of recording time the parade provided.
While the song was taking shape, the world around it grew, too. Coloring sheets were created for the kids Josh meets in hospitals and at the airport where he volunteers. The character's story developed. A small universe built itself around a Gingerbread Man who was not waiting in the background. He was ready to be seen and heard.
The entire project came together quickly, powered by people who believed in the idea and wanted to build something that felt new. A simple conversation about a parade performance turned into a full song, a cast of characters, and a holiday moment that did not exist the week before. “Gingerbread Man” was made because it felt right, it felt needed, and because a team of artists decided to make something real on a tight deadline.