The Road Hammers
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| The Road Hammers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Canada |
| Genre(s) | Country rock |
| Years active | 2005-present |
| Label(s) | Open Road (Canada) Montage (US) |
| Website | www.theroadhammers.com |
| Members | |
| Jason McCoy Clayton Bellamy Chris Byrne Corbett Frasz |
|
The Road Hammers is an award-winning Canadian Country music group composed of Jason McCoy, Clayton Bellamy, Chris Byrne and Corbett Frasz. Formed by McCoy as a side project, the trio's music is influenced by 1960s and 1970s trucker music and Southern rock. Their first self-titled album included remakes of several classic truck-driving songs. It was recognized with a Juno Award in 2006, along with numerous Canadian Country Music Association awards.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Road Hammers was founded in 2004 as a project by lead singer and guitarist Jason McCoy, a multiple Canadian Country Music Association male vocalist of the year winner. He stated the idea was to play trucker music, and came together with two other musicians with similar views on music - country-rocker Clayton Bellamy, whose father is a truck driver, and bassist Chris Byrne, both fellow Albertans. The band's first appearance was in a video by Paul Brandt for his remake of the classic song Convoy.[1] In addition to recording their self-titled album, the Road Hammers was also the subject of a reality show of the same name on Country Music Television in Canada.
The album The Road Hammers was released in 2005, and received strong reviews for its Southern rock sound and covers of classic songs.[2] Covers on the album included Girl on the Billboard, the 1965 number-one hit for Del Reeves, East Bound and Down by Jerry Reed, and Little Feat's Willin'. In the wake of the album release, The Road Hammers swept to the upper end of the Canadian country charts; four songs reached the top 10 through 2005 and 2006, and the band was nominated for six CCMA awards[3], winning Group or Duo of the Year. It was also recognized at the Juno Awards for Country Recording of the Year. The album's success continued into 2006, with the Road Hammers receiving two CCMA awards, Group or Duo of the Year and Best Video.[4]
In July 2007, McCoy stated that the band will be part of a second season of its reality show, following its attempts to secure a recording deal with an American label.[5] A second album is expected to be recorded in 2007.[6]
In late 2007, The Road Hammers signed to an American record label, Montage Music Group and the group's debut American single, "I Don't Know When to Quit" was released on December 10th. Their upcoming album, entitled Blood, Sweat, and Steel, is to be released June 24, 2008.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Label | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | US Country | |||
| 2005 | The Road Hammers | Open Road Recordings | ||
| 2008 | Blood, Sweat, and Steel | Montage Music Group | TBR | |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Song | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Country | US Country | |||
| 2005 | "I'm a Road Hammer" | 5 | The Road Hammers | |
| "East Bound and Down" | 2 | |||
| 2006 | "Nashville Bound" | 9 | ||
| "Girl on the Billboard" | 4 | |||
| 2008 | "I Don't Know When to Quit" | 51 | Blood, Sweat and Steel | |
| "Girl on the Billboard" (US release)A | ||||
- ACurrent single.
[edit] References
- ^ The Real McCoy, Calgary Sun, July 14, 2004
- ^ Hammers give country a Southern-fried injection, Georgia Straight, October 6, 2005
- ^ Brandt, Road Hammers lead Canadian country nominees, Billboard.com, August 3, 2005
- ^ Canyon, Road Hammers, Lund Band Lead CCMA Winners, Billboard.com, September 12, 2006
- ^ Country rockers' reality show returns for Season 2, Edmonton Journal, July 9, 2007
- ^ Road to success, Calgary Sun, July 10, 2006
