Trick Pony
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Trick Pony | |
|---|---|
 Trick Pony's original lineup in concert (L-R: Keith Burns, Heidi Newfield, Ira Dean)
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
| Genre(s) | Country |
| Years active | 1996-2008 |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros. Nashville Asylum-Curb |
| Associated acts | Cowboy Crush Juice Newton Bonnie Tyler |
| Website | http://www.trickpony.com |
| Former members | |
| Keith Burns Aubrey Collins Ira Dean Heidi Newfield |
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Trick Pony was an American country music group founded in 1996 by Keith Burns (lead guitar, vocals), Ira Dean (bass guitar, upright bass, vocals), and Heidi Newfield (lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar).[1] Under this original lineup, the group recorded three major-label studio albums: Trick Pony (2001), On a Mission (2002), and R.I.D.E. (2005). These albums produced a total of eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.
In 2006, following Newfield's departure for a solo career, Aubrey Collins was selected as the group's new lead singer; a year later, Collins left as well;[2] finally, Ira Dean subsequently left in February 2008.[3]
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[edit] Biography
Trick Pony was formed in 1996 by guitarist Keith Burns and bass guitarist Ira Dean. Both musicians had experience as backing musicians for other country music acts; Burns had previously worked with Joe Diffie, and Dean with Tanya Tucker.[1] Keith and Ira decided to form a group composed of two men and a woman; Heidi Newfield, a friend of Burns' wife, was soon chosen to complete the lineup.[1] The trio began touring throughout the Southern United States, developing a distinctive sound that was influenced by Southern rock and outlaw country.[1]
[edit] Musical career
By 2000, Trick Pony was signed to a record deal with Warner Bros. Records; their debut album, also titled Trick Pony, was issued that year. Serving as its lead-off single was "Pour Me", which reached a peak of #12 on the Billboard country music charts. Two additional singles ("On a Night Like This" and the Grammy Award-nominated "Just What I Do") were issued from the album, which eventually earned RIAA gold certification in the United States.[1] In 2001, the trio also received the Artist of the Year award from the Country Music Association, as well as the American Music Association's Top New Arist award.[4]
On a Mission was the title of Trick Pony's second album. Although its title track reached Top 20 on the country music charts, the second single (2003's "A Boy Like You") failed to enter Top 40, and the group was dropped from Warner Bros.' roster shortly afterward.
In 2004, Trick Pony was signed to its second record deal, this time with Asylum-Curb.[4] Their sixth single overall, entitled "The Bride", was issued that year; it served as the lead-off to their third studio album, R.I.D.E. (an abbreviation for "Rebellious Individuals Delivering Entertainment[5]). The second single from R.I.D.E. was a cover of "It's a Heartache", a country pop standard previously recorded by Bonnie Tyler and Juice Newton. Trick Pony's version of the song peaked at #22 on the country music charts.
[edit] Departure of Heidi Newfield
In October 2006, lead singer Heidi Newfield announced that she would be leaving Trick Pony in pursuit of a solo career. She made her official departure at the end of the group's December 2006 tour.[6] Newfield began recording her first solo album for Asylum-Curb in June of 2007.[7] She is also featured on Cledus T. Judd's 2007 album Boogity, Boogity - A Tribute to the Comedic Genius of Ray Stevens, on which she and Judd perform a cover of Ray Stevens' 1969 single "Gitarzan". Newfield's first solo single, "Johnny and June", was released to radio in March 2008, entering Top 40 on the country charts a month later.
Aubrey Collins, a singer-songwriter from Littleton, Colorado who had previously been eliminated from ABC's television program The One: Making a Music Star, was elected as Newfield's replacement.[8] Collins made her official debut as lead singer in April 2007 at the Country Thunder festival in Arizona.[9]
Collins herself left Trick Pony in October of 2007, stating that although she enjoyed working with the group's other two members, she and they "had different creative and musical visions".[2] Like Newfield before her, Collins is also slated to record a solo album for Asylum-Curb. Ira Dean announced his departure in February 2008; shortly after his departure, Burns announced that he was working with producer James Stroud on a reformation of Trick Pony with new members.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | RIAA | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US 200 | US Internet | ||||
| 2001 | Trick Pony | 12 | 91 | Gold | Warner Bros. | |
| 2003 | On a Mission | 13 | 61 | |||
| 2005 | R.I.D.E. | 4 | 20 | 20 | Asylum-Curb | |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Hot 100 | |||
| 2000 | "Pour Me" | 12 | 71 | Trick Pony |
| 2001 | "On a Night Like This" | 4 | 47 | |
| 2002 | "Just What I Do" | 13 | 103 | |
| "On a Mission" | 19 | 110 | On a Mission | |
| 2003 | "A Boy Like You" | 47 | ||
| 2004 | "The Bride" | 27 | R. I. D. E. | |
| 2005 | "It's a Heartache" | 22 | ||
| "Ain't Wastin' Good Whiskey on You" | 42 | |||
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Huey, Steve. Trick Pony biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ a b Trick Pony Looks for a New Lead Singer. Great American Country (2007-10-6). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Ira Dean Ends Ride With Trick Pony. Great American Country (2008-02-15). Retrieved on 2008-02-15.
- ^ a b Trick Pony biography. Great American Country. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Caviness, Crystal. Trick Pony Rides A Bumpy Road To Maturity. About.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Heidi Newfield leaves Trick Pony. Country Standard Time (2006-11-1). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Heidi Newfield Hits the Studio. Great American Country (2007-6-25). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Trick Pony Shows Off New Lineup. Broadcast Music Incorporated (2007-5-31). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
- ^ Trick Pony debuts new line-up. Country Standard Time (2007-4-18). Retrieved on 2007-12-18.
