River Road (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = River Road


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Louisiana, USA
Genre = Country
Years_active = 1989-2000
Label = Capitol
Virgin
Associated_acts = Jeffrey Steele
Past_members = Tony Ardoin
Eddie Bodin
Mike Burch
Richard Comeaux
Steve Grisaffe
Charles Ventre

River Road was an American country music band composed of Tony Ardoin (guitar, vocals), Mike Burch (drums, vocals), Richard Comeaux (steel guitar), Steve Grisaffe (lead vocals, bass guitar), and Charles Ventre (keyboards, vocals). [cite web |url=http://www.charlesventre.com/river-road.php |title=River Road |accessdate=2008-05-15 |work=Charles Ventre official website] Founded in 1989, the band signed to Capitol Records Nashville in 1997, releasing their self-titled debut album that year and charting three singles on the "Billboard" country charts, including the #37-peaking "Nickajack". By 1998, River Road had transferred to Virgin Records Nashville, charting a fourth single and recording an unreleased album ("Somethin' in the Water"). After disbanding in 2000, Ventre and Grisaffe each began solo careers.

History

River Road was formed in 1989 in the state of Louisiana by lead singer and bass guitarist Steve Grisaffe, who had previously played in other bands in Louisiana. Completing the original roster were drummer Eddie Bodin [cite web |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AD&p_theme=ad&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4775E11E5746D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Band Directory from A to Z |accessdate=2008-08-13 |date=1993-09-03 |work=The Advocate] (later replaced by Mike Burch), guitarist/vocalist Tony Ardoin, steel guitarist Richard Comeaux, and keyboardsist Charles Ventre. In 1991, the band placed second in a National Marlboro Country Music Contest, in addition to touring throughout their native Louisiana. Eventually, they were signed to Capitol Records.cite web |url=http://cdbaby.com/cd/grisaffe |title=Steve Grisaffe: Current status |accessdate=2007-12-12 |work=CDBaby.com]

River Road's first album, also titled "River Road", was released in 1997. Overall, this album produced three chart singles on the Hot Country Songs charts: "I Broke It, I'll Fix It", "Nickajack" (which entered Top 40), and "Somebody Will". The album was co-produced by Scott Hendricks and Gary Nicholson.

When Virgin Records opened its Nashville, Tennessee division in 1998, River Road was transferred to Virgin Nashville, becoming one of the first three acts signed to that division (the other two being singer Julie Reeves and prank caller Roy D. Mercer). [cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1476007/20030807/river_road.jhtml |title=Virgin Announces First Artists |accessdate=2007-12-12 |date=1998-10-09 |work=CMT.com] While on Virgin, the band began work on its second studio album (2000's "Something in the Water"), with its lead-off single "Breathless" charting as well. Virgin Nashville was dissolved by the end of the year, however, and "Somethin' in the Water" was never released, although the title track would become a Top 40 hit for its writer, Jeffrey Steele, when he recorded it a year later.

By the end of the year, River Road had disbanded, with both Ventre and Grisaffe pursuing solo careers. Grisaffe released an album titled "Current Status" in 2001 on an independent label.

"River Road" (1997)

Infobox Album
Name = River Road
Type = studio
Artist = River Road


Released = Start date|1997|06|13
Recorded =
Genre = Country
Length = 33:13
Label = Capitol Nashville
Producer = Scott Hendricks
Gary Nicholson
Reviews =

Track listing

#"Wishful Thinking" (Michael Henderson, Wally Wilson) – 3:15
#"Somebody Will" (Walt Aldridge, Brad Crisler, Steven Dale Jones) – 2:40
#"She Gets to Me" (Fred Knobloch, Billy Kirsch) – 3:32
#"Nickajack" (Steve Bogard, Matt Maher, Steve Curnutte) – 2:51
#"I Broke It, I'll Fix It" (Buzz Cason, Byron Hill) – 3:30
#"Only Young Once" (Larry Boone, Paul Nelson) – 2:51
#"Listen to Her Tears" (Terry Burns, Susan Longacre, Stephony Smith) – 4:12
#"Tears to the Tide" (Sarah Beth Hooker, Gary Burr, Gary Nicholson) – 3:51
#"A Day in the Life" (Nicholson, Craig Wiseman) – 2:55
#"As If You Didn't Know" (Donnie Fritts, Nicholson) – 3:36

Personnel

As listed in liner notes. [cite album-notes |title=River Road |bandname=River Road |year=1997 |format=CD |publisher=Capitol Records Nashville |publisherid=53052]

River Road

*Tony Ardoin – electric guitar, background vocals
*Mike Burch – drums, background vocals
*Richard Comeaux – pedal steel guitar
*Steve Grisaffe – bass guitar, lead vocals
*Charles Ventre – keyboards, background vocals

Additional musicians

*Bruce Bouton – lap steel guitar
*J.T. Corenflos – electric guitar
*Chad Cromwell – drums
*Larry Franklin – fiddle
*Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar
*Bob Glaub – bass guitar
*Mike Henderson – electric guitar
*Dann Huff – electric guitar
*John Jorgenson – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
*Steve Nathan – piano, Hammond organ, strings
*Michael Spriggs – acoustic guitar

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.charlesventre.com Charles Ventre official website]
*myspace|stevieg|Steve Grisaffe