River Road (band)

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River Road
Origin Louisiana, USA
Genre(s) Country
Years active 1989-2000
Label(s) Capitol
Virgin
Associated acts Jeffrey Steele
Former members
Tony Ardoin
Eddie Bodin
Mike Burch
Richard Comeaux
Steve Grisaffe
Charles Ventre

River Road was an American country music band composed of Tony Ardoin (guitar, vocals), Mike Burch (drums, vocals), Richard Comeaux (steel guitar), Steve Grisaffe (lead vocals, bass guitar), and Charles Ventre (keyboards, vocals).[1] Founded in 1989, the band signed to Capitol Records Nashville in 1997, releasing their self-titled debut album that year; this album produced three chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. By 1998, River Road had transferred to Virgin Records Nashville, charting a fourth single and recording an unreleased album (Somethin' in the Water). After disbanding in 2000, Ventre and Grisaffe each pursued solo careers

Contents

[edit] History

River Road was formed in 1989 in the state of Louisiana by lead singer and bass guitarist Steve Grisaffe, who had previously played in other bands in Louisiana; completing the roster were drummer Eddie Bodin (later replaced by Mike Burch), guitarist/vocalist Tony Ardoin, steel guitarist Richard Comeaux, and keyboardsist Charles Ventre. In 1991, the band placed second in a National Marlboro Country Music Contest, in addition to touring throughout their native Louisiana. Eventually, they were signed to Capitol Records.[2]

River Road's first album, also titled River Road, was released in 1997. Overall, this album produced three chart singles on the Hot Country Songs charts: "I Broke It, I'll Fix It", "Nickajack" (which entered Top 40), and "Somebody Will".

When Virgin Records opened its Nashville, Tennessee division in 1998, River Road was transferred to Virgin Nashville, becoming one of the first three acts signed to that division (the other two being singer Julie Reeves and telephone prankster Roy D. Mercer).[3] While on Virgin, the band began work on its second studio album (2000's Something in the Water), with its lead-off single "Breathless" charting as well. Virgin Nashville was dissolved by the end of the year, however, and Somethin' in the Water was never released,[2] although the title track would become a Top 40 hit for its writer, Jeffrey Steele, when he recorded it a year later.

By the end of the year, River Road had disbanded, with both Ventre and Grisaffe pursuing solo careers. Grisaffe released an album titled Current Status in 2001 on an independent label.

[edit] River Road (1997)

River Road
River Road cover
Studio album by River Road
Released June 13, 1997 (1997-06-13)
Genre Country
Label Capitol Nashville
Producer Scott Hendricks

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Wishful Thinking" (Michael Henderson, Wally Wilson) – 3:15
  2. "Somebody Will" (Walt Aldridge, Brad Crisler, Steven Dale Jones) – 2:40
  3. "She Gets to Me" (Fred Knobloch, Billy Kirsch) – 3:32
  4. "Nickajack" (Steve Bogard, Matt Maher, Steve Curnutte) – 2:51
  5. "I Broke It, I'll Fix It" (Buzz Cason, Byron Hill) – 3:30
  6. "Only Young Once" (Larry Boone, Paul Nelson) – 2:51
  7. "Listen to Her Tears" (Terry Burns, Susan Longacre, Stephony Smith) – 4:12
  8. "Tears to the Tide" (Sarah Beth Hooker, Gary Burr, Gary Nicholson) – 3:51
  9. "A Day in the Life" (Nicholson, Craig Wiseman) – 2:55
  10. "As If You Didn't Know" (Donnie Fritts, Nicholson) – 3:36


[edit] Singles

Year Title US Country Album
1997 "I Broke It, I'll Fix It" 48 River Road
"Nickajack" 37
1998 "Somebody Will" 51
2000 "Breathless" 45 Somethin' in the Water

[edit] References

  1. ^ River Road. Charles Ventre official website. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  2. ^ a b Steve Grisaffe: Current status. CDBaby.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  3. ^ Virgin Announces First Artists. CMT.com (1998-10-09). Retrieved on 2007-12-12.

[edit] External links