When was Chris Stapleton in the SteelDrivers?

Thursday, April 1, 2010 – The SteelDrivers' lead singer Chris Stapleton has left the band, Rounder Records President Ken Irwin confirmed Thursday.

"Chris has left the band to focus more on writing and family," Irwin said in an email.

Stapleton, also known, for his songwriting skills, was the vocalist for the driving quintet, which put out one very well received CD in January 2008.

"There will be an announcement of a replacement shortly after an appreciation of Chris," Irwin said.

"(The) SteelDrivers are very happy with new lead singer....he is a new singer and not a replacement for Chris.....good guitar player too," said Irwin, who added that he had not seen the new band yet.

The band continues with Richard Bailey - Banjo, Mike Fleming - Bass/Vocals, Mike Henderson - Mandolin/Vocals and and Tammy Rogers - Fiddle/Vocals

The Muscle Shoals Recordings

Fans of Chris Stapleton may have heard his early work with The SteelDrivers, but have you heard his rock n' roll sounds?

Chris Stapleton is out with a new album next week. His highly anticipated fourth studio album Starting Over is Due out Nov. 13. The album features 14 tracks, three in which have been released prior to the album drop. While we eagerly await new music from The Stapleton, lets take stroll through his earlier work.

Chris Stapleton is one of those artists who could sing the dictionary, and it would still be mind blowing. With three studio albums, The Stapleton has graced us with plenty of quality country. Extend his reach via his songwriting, and he's graced country music with mega hits, like "Crash And Burn" by Thomas Rhett, "Drink A Beer" by Luke Bryan, "Never Wanted Nothing More" by Kenny Chesney, and "Love's Gonna Make It Alright" by King George Strait. A personal favorite from this author is a song that was penned my Chris and recorded by Josh Turner titled, "Another Try." A demo cut of the song, with Stapleton on vocals surfaced on YouTube over a year ago.

The list of Stapleton penned songs goes on, you can see more here from The Boot.

Chris Stapleton fronted a bluegrass band called The SteelDrivers for two albums. "Midnight Train To Memphis" was released as a part of his From A Room: Volume 2 record. But fans may remember the track from The SteelDrivers self-titled debut record. Stapleton would depart from the band after their second album Reckless.

After the SteelDrivers, Stapleton took his sound to a new level, fronting the group Jompson Brothers. They only put out one self-titled record, which features Stapleton on vocals and guitar. The group had a heavy southern rock sound. Tracks like "Motor Runnin'," "Ride My Rocket" and "Secret Weapon" show off his full, rock n' roll sound. The final track on the record "Barely Alive" displays where Stapleton's solo sound would take him.

• The SteelDrivers - The SteelDrivers (2008)
• The SteelDrivers - Reckless (2010)
• The Jompson Brothers - The Jompson Brothers (2010)

So Chris Stapleton fans, if you didn't already know, now you have another three records worth of music to enjoy featuring the big signature sound of The Stapleton.

American bluegrass band

The SteelDrivers

• Richard Bailey
• Matt Dame
• Mike Fleming
• Tammy Rogers
• Brent Truitt
• Adam Wakefield

• Chris Stapleton
• Mike Henderson
• Gary Nichols
• Kelvin Damrell

The SteelDrivers are a bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Members include fiddler Tammy Rogers, bassist Mike Fleming, guitarist/vocalist Matt Dame, mandolinist Brent Truitt, and banjoist Richard Bailey. Past members include Kelvin Damrell, Chris Stapleton, Gary Nichols, and Mike Henderson. The band has recorded four albums on the Rounder Records label and one independent live album recorded at The Station Inn. The band has received several Grammy nominations and won a Grammy for the album The Muscle Shoals Recordings.

Career

After playing at many bluegrass festivals The SteelDrivers signed to Rounder Records and released a self-titled debut in 2008, featuring new lead singer Chris Stapleton.[1] The album peaked at No. 57 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart.[2] The group was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their song "Blue Side of the Mountain."[3] In 2010, the group received two nominations for its second album, Reckless. The album has been nominated for both Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "Where Rainbows Never Die".[4]

Stapleton announced in April 2010, that he was leaving the band to focus on raising his family.[5] He was replaced by former Mercury Records artist Gary Nichols on lead vocals and guitar.[6] In December 2011, founding member Mike Henderson left the band.[7][8] Henderson was replaced by Nashville musician and record producer Brent Truitt. In 2015, the new lineup received a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for its new album The Muscle Shoals Recordings.[9] In 2018, Kelvin Damrell became the band's new lead singer and debuted on the 2020 release Bad for You.[10] In July 2021 Kelvin Damrell announced his departure from the band, and the band simultaneously announced the addition of Matt Dame as lead singer.[11]

Discography

Albums

Music videos

Awards and nominations

Grammy awards

References

1. ^ The Steeldrivers at Allmusic
2. ^ "Billboard - Top Country Albums". billboard.com. Billboard. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
3. ^ Flippo, Chet (22 January 2009). "NASHVILLE SKYLINE: A Deserved Grammy Nod for SteelDrivers". CMT. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
4. ^ www.grammy.com http://www.grammy.com/nominees. Retrieved 6 December 2010. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. ^ "Chris Stapleton leaves The SteelDrivers". Country Standard Time. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
6. ^ "Gary Nichols named SteelDrivers' new singer". Country Standard Time. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
7. ^ "Mike Henderson Exits the Steeldrivers". Bluegrass Today. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
8. ^ "Mike Henderson Moves On". Bluegrass Today. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
9. ^ "58th Annual Grammy Award winners". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
10. ^ "The Steeldrivers announce Bad for you". The Steeldrivers. December 7, 2019.
11. ^ "Matt Dame to The Steeldrivers on guitar and vocals". Bluegrass Today. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
12. ^ a b c "Steeldrivers". Billboard.
13. ^ "Bad For You by The SteelDrivers". Apple Music. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
14. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
15. ^ "CMT : Videos : The SteelDrivers : I'll Be There". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
16. ^ "CMT : Videos : The SteelDrivers : Wearin' a Hole". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2013.

External links

• Official website

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