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.

The SteelDrivers
The SteelDrivers performing on the Taylor Guitars showroom stage, on January 22, 2015
The SteelDrivers performing on the Taylor Guitars showroom stage, on January 22, 2015
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresBluegrass
Years active2005–present
LabelsRounder
Members
  • Richard Bailey
  • Matt Dame
  • Mike Fleming
  • Tammy Rogers
  • Brent Truitt
Past members
Websitethesteeldrivers.com

Career

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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

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US Grass
[12]
US Country
[12]
US Heat
[12]
The SteelDrivers 2 57
Reckless
  • Release date: September 7, 2010
  • Label: Rounder Records
2 17
Hammer Down
  • Release date: February 5, 2013
  • Label: Rounder Records
1 6
The Muscle Shoals Recordings
  • Release date: June 16, 2015
  • Label: Rounder Records
1 5
Bad for You
  • Release date: February 7, 2020[13]
  • Label: Rounder Records
1
Tougher Than Nails
  • Release date: September 8, 2023
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

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2013 Blue Side of the Mountain
2013 "I'll Be There"[15] Dycee Wildman
"Wearin' a Hole"[16]
2015 "Long Way Down"

Awards and nominations

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Grammy awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Blue Side of the Mountain" Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated
2011 Reckless Best Bluegrass Album Nominated
"Where Rainbows Never Die" Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated
2015 The Muscle Shoals Recordings Best Bluegrass Album Won

References

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  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. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
  4. ^ "Nominees". www.grammy.com. Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  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.
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