Sons of Maxwell is a Canadian music duo who perform both traditional Celtic folk music and original compositions with a pop-folk sound. The duo consists of brothers Don and Dave Carroll, originally from Timmins, Ontario, now living in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Don and Dave began singing together in college.
In July 2009 the band became an international media sensation when they released the country-style song and music video "United Breaks Guitars," explaining how after United Airlines personnel damaged their musical instruments, the airline refused to take responsibility or give compensation for the loss.
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While attending university, brothers Don and Dave Carroll began singing together. After graduation they began their professional music career. Sons of Maxwell has toured extensively both in Canada and internationally.[1] The group won an East Coast Music Award in 2006 for the Vibe Marketing Country Recording of the Year with Sunday Morning.[2] The Sons of Maxwell also won an ECMA in 2002 for Roots Traditional Group of the Year with Among The Living. They are 5 time ECMA nominees.
Dave Carroll was named Digital Artist of the Year and Video of the Year at the Nova Scotia Awards in 2009. [3][4]
The incident, which occurred on March 31, 2008 when the band was flying from Halifax to Omaha, Nebraska on United Airlines, resulted in the damage of a guitar belonging to Dave Carroll. After months of unsuccessful wrangling for reparations, Carroll wrote "United Breaks Guitars" to chronicle the real-life experience of how his guitar was broken, and the subsequent stonewalling reaction from the airline. The song became an immediate YouTube and ITMS hit upon its release in July 2009 and a public relations humiliation for United Airlines;[5] The Times reported that four days after the song's release, the company's share price "plunged by 10 per cent, costing shareholders $180 million".[6] A second video, United Breaks Guitars: Song 2 was released on YouTube on August 18, 2009.[7][8] The song takes a closer look at Dave Carroll's dealings with Ms. Irlweg and targets the flawed policies that she was forced to uphold. The third song, "'United We Stand' on the Right Side of Right," was released on March 1, 2010 as a humorous coda to the incident. In the song, Carroll sings how he is largely satisfied with the resolution of the affair since it has given his career a spectacular boost. However, he also notes that many people have shared their similar complaints with businesses and they must not be underestimated again.
Aside from their busy music schedule, the Carroll brothers also serve as firefighters in Halifax, Nova Scotia (since 2003). Don Carroll began a full time career as a firefighter with HRM Fire and Emergency Service in 2008. Dave Carroll remains an active volunteer firefighter for the city.
As a solo artist, Dave Carroll has released the album Perfect Blue. In addition, Sons of Maxwell has released the following albums and singles:
| Year | Album | Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Sons of Maxwell | Maggie; Closing the Mine; Mr. Tanner; Sixteen for Awhile; Farewell to Nova Scotia; Closer to Fine; Never No More; Early One Morning; Cecilia; Mairi's Wedding/Tell My Ma |
| 1995 | Bold Frontier | Free to Be; The Mary Ellen Carter; Mary's Song; Sixteen for Awhile; I'm Your Man; Old Dan's Records; Sailor's Story; Piano Man; Maggie; Street Man's Confession; Bold Frontier |
| 1998 | Live at Tim's House | Wild Colonial Boy; Fox on the Run; Ste. Anne's Reel; Rocky Road to Dublin; Field's of France; Irish Rover; 16 Tons; Ramblin' Rover; Country Boy (Thank GOD!); Those were the days; Pack up your troubles-Long way to Tipperary-Roll out the Barrell |
| The Neighbourhood | The Neighbourhood, Will You Come Home, Queen Of Argyle, The Lighthouse, Pandora, So Many Things, These Things I Believe, Oceanside Again, And We Danced, Prospectors | |
| 2000 | Sailor's Story | Farewell to Nova Scotia; Mary Mac; Sonny's Dream; Peter Street; Yellow Submarine; The Irish Rover; Barrett's Privateers; The Mermaid; Last Shanty; The Leaving Of Liverpool |
| 2001 | Among the Living | Among The Living; So Confusing; Mile A Minute; Lady From L.A.; Mrs. Stanley; Burning Bridges; 507; These Things I Believe; Easy Come Easy Go; Workin' Man; When The Circus Comes To Town; Hold On; Get It Jumpin' |
| Instant Christmas | Christmas In Kllarney; Cape Breton Christmas Eve; O Holy Night; Christmas Time At Home; Bleak Mid Winter; Let It Snow; Mele Malikimaka/Hawaiian Christmas; First Christmas Away From Home; Go Tell It On The Mountain; I Saw Three Ships | |
| 2004 | Sunday Morning | The Best Things; Uphill Battle; Like You Do; You Let Me Love You; Everyone; Live In The Movies; Games People Play; Whole Lot Lighter; Everyday Of Your Life; Give Me a Reason; I'm Willing; The Best Things; Mr. Nobody; Sunday Morning |
| Year | Single | CAN Country | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | "The Neighbourhood" | The Neighbourhood | |
| 1999 | "And We Danced" | 54 | |
| "Oceanside Again" | |||
| 2000 | "Queen of Argyle" | ||
| 2001 | "So Confusing" | Among the Living | |
| 2002 | "Burning Bridges" | ||
| 2004 | "The Best of Things" | Sunday Morning | |
| 2005 | "Uphill Battle" | ||
| 2009 | "United Breaks Guitars" |