Cross Canadian Ragweed
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Cross Canadian Ragweed is an alternative country band of the Red Dirt scene, formed in Yukon, Oklahoma, in 1994. It is composed of frontman/guitarist Cody Canada, drummer Randy Ragsdale, rhythm guitarist Grady Cross, and bassist Jeremy Plato. The band's name is derived from the four original members' surnames: Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Randy Ragsdale and (original bassist) Matt Wiedemann. There is a common misconception that the name is a reference to the Canadian River, which runs through Oklahoma and Texas.
After forming, they moved to the college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, where acts like Mike McClure's The Great Divide and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave had established enough of a local scene to earn Stillwater the nickname "North Austin" (or, depending on your perspective, "West Nashville").
Known as much for their never-ending tours (200+ shows per year) as their vocal support for marijuana (the song "The Boys from Oklahoma" is entirely about marijuana and is also one of the band's most famous songs, despite not being written by them.), the group had already received significant college radio airplay before it released its first album, Highway 377 and Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog, both in 2001, as well as Carney in 2002, with Underground Sounds, before switching to Smith Music Group for Live and Loud at Billy Bob's Texas. The group occasionally tours with Willie Nelson.
With the release of a self-titled album also known as "the Purple album" due to its cover color, which is a tribute to the band's "little sister" Mandi Ragsdale who had recently died in an auto accident and that was her favorite color, the band moved into the mainstream eye. Their 2004 offering "Soul Gravy" debuted at #4 on the Billboard charts.
The band frequently plays with country music star Dierks Bentley, "Texas Country" star Pat Green, and other stars of the Red Dirt music scene including Reckless Kelly, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, No Justice, and Robert Earl Keen. In October 2005, the band released their album Garage, which featured the single "Fightin' For."
The band released a live CD/DVD combo on October 31, 2006, Back To Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Carney - (1999)
- Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon - (2001)
- Highway 377 - (2002)
- Live and Loud at Billy Bob's Texas - (2002)
- Purple - (2002): #70 Top Country Albums
- Soul Gravy - (2004): #51 Billboard 200; #5 Top Country Albums
- Garage - (2005): #37 Billboard 200; #6 Top Country Albums
- Back To Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom - (2006)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | |||
| 2002 | "17" | #57 | Cross Canadian Ragweed |
| 2004 | "Constantly" | #57 | Cross Canadian Ragweed |
| 2004 | "Sick and Tired" (with Lee Ann Womack) | #46 | Soul Gravy |
| 2005 | "Alabama" | #46 | Soul Gravy |
| 2005 | "Fightin' For" | #39 | Garage |
| 2006 | "This Time Around" | #44 | Garage |
