Trick Pony

Infobox musical artist
Name = Trick Pony

---

Img_capt = Trick Pony's original lineup in concert (L-R: Keith Burns, Heidi Newfield, Ira Dean)
Img_size = 200
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Genre = Country
Years_active = 1996-2008
Label = Warner Bros. Nashville
Asylum-Curb
Associated_acts = Juice Newton
Bonnie Tyler
URL = http://www.trickpony.com
Current_members =
Past_members = Keith Burns
Aubrey Collins
Ira Dean
Heidi Newfield

Trick Pony was an American country music group formed in 1996 by Keith Burns (lead guitar, vocals), Ira Dean (bass guitar, upright bass, vocals), and Heidi Newfield (lead vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar).cite web |url=http://wm03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kcfpxqukld6e~T1 |title=Trick Pony biography |accessdate=2007-12-18 |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=Allmusic] Under this original lineup, the group recorded three major-label studio albums: "Trick Pony" (2001), "On a Mission" (2002), and "R.I.D.E." (2005). These albums produced a total of eight singles on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts, of which the highest peaking was 2002's "On a Night Like This" at #4.

In 2006, Newfield departed for a solo career, and Aubrey Collins was selected as the group's new lead singer. A year later, Collins left as well,cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5717197,00.html |title=Trick Pony Looks for a New Lead Singer |accessdate=2007-12-18 |date=2007-10-06 |work=Great American Country] and Dean subsequently left in February 2008, effectively disbanding the group. [cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5806996_,00.html |title= Ira Dean Ends Ride With Trick Pony |accessdate=2008-02-15 |date=2008-02-15 |work=Great American Country]

History

Trick Pony was formed in 1996 by guitarist Keith Burns and bass guitarist Ira Dean. Both musicians had experience as backing musicians for other country music acts; Burns had previously worked with Joe Diffie, and Dean with Tanya Tucker. Keith and Ira decided to form a group composed of two men and a woman. Completing the lineup was Heidi Newfield, a friend of Burns' then-wife. The trio began touring throughout the Southern United States, developing a sound that was influenced by Southern rock and outlaw country.

Musical career

By 2000, Trick Pony was signed to a record deal with Warner Bros. Records; their debut album, also titled "Trick Pony", was issued that year. Serving as its lead-off single was "Pour Me", which reached a peak of #12 on the "Billboard" country music charts. Two additional singles ("On a Night Like This" and the Grammy Award-nominated "Just What I Do") were issued from the album, which eventually earned RIAA gold certification in the United States. Of these, "Just What I Do" featured Keith Burns on lead vocals, and was the only one not to feature Newfield on lead vocals. [cite web |url=http://countrymusic.about.com/library/bltrickponyrev.htm |title=CD review: "Trick Pony" - Trick Pony |accessdate=2008-08-21 |last=Downs |first=Jolene |work=About.com] In 2001, the trio also received the Artist of the Year award from the Country Music Association, as well as the American Music Association's Top New Arist award.cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/ar_az_trick_pony/article/0,,GAC_27020_4736021,00.html |title=Trick Pony biography |accessdate=2007-12-18 |work=Great American Country]

"On a Mission" was the title of Trick Pony's second album. Although its David Lee Murphy-penned title track reached Top 20 on the country music charts, the second single (2003's "A Boy Like You") failed to enter Top 40, and the group was dropped from Warner Bros.' roster shortly afterward.

In 2004, Trick Pony was signed to its second record deal, this time with Asylum-Curb Records. Their sixth single overall, entitled "The Bride", was issued that year, serving as the lead-off to their third studio album, "R.I.D.E." (an abbreviation for "Rebellious Individuals Delivering Entertainmentcite web |url=http://countrymusic.about.com/od/news/a/trickpony_cma.htm |title=Trick Pony Rides A Bumpy Road To Maturity |accessdate=2007-12-18 |last=Caviness |first=Crystal |work=About.com] ). The second single from "R.I.D.E." was a cover of "It's a Heartache", a country pop standard previously recorded by Bonnie Tyler and Juice Newton. Trick Pony's version of the song peaked at #22 on the country music charts. The third single from "R.I.D.E.", "Ain't Wastin' Good Whiskey on You", featured guest vocals from Tracy Byrd, Joe Diffie, Mel Tillis, Tanya Tucker and Darryl Worley.

Departure of Heidi Newfield

In October 2006, lead singer Heidi Newfield announced that she would be leaving Trick Pony in pursuit of a solo career. She made her official departure at the end of the group's December 2006 tour. [cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=268&t=Heidi_Newfield_leaves_Trick_Pony |title=Heidi Newfield leaves Trick Pony |accessdate=2007-12-18 |date=2006-11-01 |work=Country Standard Time] Newfield began recording her first solo album for Asylum-Curb in June 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5601518,00.html |title= Heidi Newfield Hits the Studio |accessdate=2007-12-18 |date= 2007-06-25 |work=Great American Country] She made her solo debut on Cledus T. Judd's 2007 album "Boogity, Boogity - A Tribute to the Comedic Genius of Ray Stevens", on which she and Judd performed a cover of Ray Stevens' 1969 single "Gitarzan". Newfield released a song entitled "Johnny & June" in mid-2008, the first single her solo debut album "What Am I Waiting For", released on Curb in August 2008.

Aubrey Collins, a singer-songwriter from Littleton, Colorado who had previously been eliminated from ABC's television program "", was elected as Newfield's replacement in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/535067 |title=Trick Pony Shows Off New Lineup |accessdate=2007-12-18 |date=2007-05-31 |work=Broadcast Music Incorporated] Collins made her official debut as lead singer in April 2007 at the Country Thunder festival in Arizona. [cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=537&t=trick_pony_debuts_new_line_up |title=Trick Pony debuts new line-up |accessdate=2007-12-18 |date=2007-04-18 |work=Country Standard Time] Collins herself left Trick Pony in October 2007, saying that although she enjoyed working with the group's other two members, she and they "had different creative and musical visions". Like Newfield before her, Collins also announced plans to record a solo album on Curb Records. Ira Dean announced his departure in February 2008. shortly after his departure, Burns announced that he was working with producer James Stroud on a reformation of Trick Pony with new members.

Discography

Albums

ingles

References

External links

* [http://www.trickpony.com/ Trick Pony Official Page]