Whitey Morgan and the 78's

Whitey Morgan and the 78's
Whitey Morgan in Woodstock, New York
Background information
Origin	Flint, Michigan, US
Genres	Alternative country, honky tonk, outlaw country
Years active	2005–present
Labels	independent
Website	whiteymorgan.com
Members	Whitey Morgan Brett Robinson Joey Spina Alex Lyon Tony DiCello
Past members	Benny James Vermeylen Jeremy “Leroy” Biltz Tamineh Gueramy Jeremy Mackinder Mike Popovich

Whitey Morgan and the 78's are a honky tonk country band based in Flint, Michigan. In 2010, they signed a recording contract with Chicago-based Bloodshot Records.

Formation and early history

Started in 2005, under the name Whitey Morgan and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys, the original members included Whitey Morgan (a.k.a. Eric Allen), formerly of Dixie Hustler, on Vocals and Guitar; Jeremy Mackinder, formerly of South Normal, on bass; and Dylan Dunbar and Jack Schneider, formerly of Long Black Sedan, on guitar and drums respectively.^[1] After establishing themselves in the Midwest Honky Tonk scene, the band recorded a self-produced EP which includes early versions of "Goodbye Dixie," "Prove It All To You," and "If It Ain't Broke." The band soon signed a deal with Detroit's own Small Stone Recordings and went back into the studio to record a cover version of Van Halen's "Runnin' with the Devil" for the label's Sucking in the 70's compilation.

Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels

In 2007 the band changed its line-up to Whitey Morgan on Vocals and Guitar, Benny James Vermeylen on Guitar and vocals - formerly of 3 Speed^[2] and South Normal, Jeremy "Leroy" Biltz on Guitar, Jeremy Mackinder on bass, and Mike Popovich - formerly of The Holy Cows,^[3] 3 Speed,^[4] and The OffRamps,^[5] on drums and officially becomes Whitey Morgan and the 78's. In 2008 the band released its debut album Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels on Small Stone Recordings.

Whitey Morgan and the 78's

In 2009 the band saw the addition of Tamineh Gueramy on Fiddle. The band then headed to Woodstock, NY in the fall of 2009 to begin recording the follow-up to Honky Tonks... at the Grammy Award winning Levon Helm Studios. With almost 200 shows a year and the new album nearing completion the band drew the attention of Chicago's Bloodshot Records and signed a new record contract. The self-titled album was released on October 12, 2010. Ahead of the record's release, both Benny James and Mike Popovich left the band, replaced by Travis Harrett on the drums and Brett Robinson joined on pedal steel guitar. In April 2012, Jeremy Mackinder was replaced by Joey Spina on bass.

Current line-up

As of 2014, the current line-up features Whitey Morgan on guitar/vocals, Brett Robinson on pedal steel guitar, Joey Spina on guitar, Alex Lyon on Bass, and Tony Dicello on drums.

National recognition

After touring with fellow Detroit area band The Deadstring Brothers and Wayne "the Train" Hancock, both Bloodshot Records recording artists, Whitey Morgan and the 78's were signed to Bloodshot in the spring of 2010.^[6]

On 16 October 2010, the band performed on NPR's Mountain Stage. They played a four-song, fifteen-minute set.^[7] The episode also featured Scott Miller, Abigale Washburn, Gene Watson, and The Steel Drivers.^[8]

Discography

Awards

In 2009, after the release of their first studio album, the band was awarded three Detroit Music Awards: Best Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Songwriter, Best Country Album.^[9]

In 2010, after the release of the self-titled album "Whitey Morgan and the 78's", the band was awarded Best Country Recording.

In 2014 Winner of The Ameripolitan Music Awards Outlaw Country Band of the Year

References

External links

• Whitey Morgan and the 78's Official Web Site