The Road Hammers

Infobox musical artist |
Name = The Road Hammers


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Canada
Genre = Country rock
Years_active = 2005-present
Label = Open Road (Canada)
Montage (US)
Associated_acts = Del Reeves
URL = [http://www.theroadhammers.com/ www.theroadhammers.com]
Current_members = Jason McCoy
Clayton Bellamy
Chris Byrne
Corbett Frasz
Past_members =

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.

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 Albertans. The first sign of the band was in a video by Paul Brandt for his remake of the classic song "Convoy". McCoy appears in the video, wearing a Road Hammers shirt. Originally the entire band was to appear, but scheduling conflicts didn't allow for that to happen. 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. [ [http://www.straight.com/article/hammers-give-country-a-southern-fried-injection?# Hammers give country a Southern-fried injection] , Georgia Straight, October 6, 2005] It debuted at #1 on the Canadian country albums chart. [ [http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=1061&t=Road_Hammers_truck_on_through_Blood_Sweat_&_Steel Road Hammers truck on through Blood Sweat & Steel] , Country Standard Time, June 2008] 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 [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001008837 Brandt, Road Hammers lead Canadian country nominees] , Billboard.com, August 3, 2005] , 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. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003120910 Canyon, Road Hammers, Lund Band Lead CCMA Winners] , Billboard.com, September 12, 2006]

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. [ [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/culture/story.html?id=e8167a51-ef68-4dff-9e7f-5dc27084451c&k=89347 Country rockers' reality show returns for Season 2] , Edmonton Journal, July 9, 2007] 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 10. Their second album, entitled "Blood, Sweat, and Steel", was released on June 24, 2008.

Discography

Albums

ingles

*^ATo be released.

References

External links

* [http://www.theroadhammers.com/ Official Homepage]