Brother Phelps
Encyclopedia
Brother Phelps was an American country music
duo formed by brothers Ricky Lee (guitar
, vocals) and Doug Phelps (bass guitar
, vocals). Prior to the duo's formation in 1992, both brothers were members of The Kentucky Headhunters
, a country rock
band. In 1993, Brother Phelps charted with its debut single "Let Go
", which reached a peak of #6 on the Billboard
country music charts. In all, the duo charted six singles between 1993 and 1995 (although only one other single reached Top 40), in addition to recording two albums on Asylum Records
. Brother Phelps disbanded in 1995, with Doug rejoining the Kentucky Headhunters as lead singer, and Ricky Lee assuming a solo career.
, and Doug Phelps who was born in Leachville, Arkansas in 1960. They were raised in the Missouri Bootheel and Doug graduated from a small school named Southland located in Cardwell, Missouri
. They joined The Kentucky Headhunters
in 1986. Ricky Lee served as lead vocalist, while Doug played bass guitar and sang backup vocals. The Kentucky Headhunters released its debut album, Pickin' on Nashville
, in 1989, producing four Top 40 singles on the country charts with it. After the band's second album, 1991's Electric Barnyard
, failed to produce a major hit, Ricky Lee and Doug announced that they were leaving to form their own group. Mark Orr then became lead singer of The Kentucky Headhunters, while Anthony Kenney took over as bass guitarist.
The newly formed duo (named Brother Phelps, after Ricky Lee and Doug's minister father), signed to Asylum Records
in 1992. Unlike the country rock sounds of The Kentucky Headhunters, Brother Phelps featured a more traditional country music
sound. Their first single, "Let Go
", reached a peak of #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1993, higher than any of The Kentucky Headhunters' singles had peaked. The same year, the duo's first album (also titled Let Go) was released.
Brother Phelps' second and final album, Any Way the Wind Blows (its title track a J. J. Cale cover), was released in 1995 to critical acclaim, although it failed to produce any Top 40 singles. The duo disbanded in 1995, with Doug returning to the Kentucky Headhunters, assuming the role of lead vocalist after Orr's departure. Ricky Lee, meanwhile, continued to record as a solo artist.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
duo formed by brothers Ricky Lee (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals) and Doug Phelps (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals). Prior to the duo's formation in 1992, both brothers were members of The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock band. They were founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which comprised brothers Richard Young and Fred Young along with Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney...
, a country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
band. In 1993, Brother Phelps charted with its debut single "Let Go
Let Go (Brother Phelps song)
"Let Go" is the title of a song written by Dickie Brown and recorded by American country music duo Brother Phelps. It was released in June 1993 as the first single from their debut album, Let Go. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in October 1993.-Music...
", which reached a peak of #6 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country music charts. In all, the duo charted six singles between 1993 and 1995 (although only one other single reached Top 40), in addition to recording two albums on Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
. Brother Phelps disbanded in 1995, with Doug rejoining the Kentucky Headhunters as lead singer, and Ricky Lee assuming a solo career.
Biography
The Brothers are Ricky Lee Phelps, who was born in Edmonton, KentuckyEdmonton, Kentucky
Edmonton is a city in, and the county seat of, Metcalfe County, Kentucky, United States. The area was first surveyed by Revolutionary War veteran and Virginian Edmund P. Rogers in 1800. The city was established by the Kentucky legislature as a trading post in 1836 and was named the county seat in...
, and Doug Phelps who was born in Leachville, Arkansas in 1960. They were raised in the Missouri Bootheel and Doug graduated from a small school named Southland located in Cardwell, Missouri
Cardwell, Missouri
Cardwell is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 789 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cardwell is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
. They joined The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters
The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock band. They were founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which comprised brothers Richard Young and Fred Young along with Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney...
in 1986. Ricky Lee served as lead vocalist, while Doug played bass guitar and sang backup vocals. The Kentucky Headhunters released its debut album, Pickin' on Nashville
Pickin' on Nashville
-Personnel:*Greg Martin - electric guitar, slide guitar*Doug Phelps - background vocals, bass guitar*Ricky Lee Phelps - lead vocals*Richard Ripani - organ on "Rock & Roll Angel" and "Oh Lonesome Me"*Fred Young - drums, percussion*Richard Young - rhythm guitar...
, in 1989, producing four Top 40 singles on the country charts with it. After the band's second album, 1991's Electric Barnyard
Electric Barnyard
-Personnel:*Greg Martin – electric guitar, slide guitar*Doug Phelps – bass guitar, background vocals*Ricky Lee Phelps – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion*Fred Young – drums, percussion*Richard Young – rhythm guitar-Chart performance:...
, failed to produce a major hit, Ricky Lee and Doug announced that they were leaving to form their own group. Mark Orr then became lead singer of The Kentucky Headhunters, while Anthony Kenney took over as bass guitarist.
The newly formed duo (named Brother Phelps, after Ricky Lee and Doug's minister father), signed to Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
in 1992. Unlike the country rock sounds of The Kentucky Headhunters, Brother Phelps featured a more traditional country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
sound. Their first single, "Let Go
Let Go (Brother Phelps song)
"Let Go" is the title of a song written by Dickie Brown and recorded by American country music duo Brother Phelps. It was released in June 1993 as the first single from their debut album, Let Go. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in October 1993.-Music...
", reached a peak of #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1993, higher than any of The Kentucky Headhunters' singles had peaked. The same year, the duo's first album (also titled Let Go) was released.
Brother Phelps' second and final album, Any Way the Wind Blows (its title track a J. J. Cale cover), was released in 1995 to critical acclaim, although it failed to produce any Top 40 singles. The duo disbanded in 1995, with Doug returning to the Kentucky Headhunters, assuming the role of lead vocalist after Orr's departure. Ricky Lee, meanwhile, continued to record as a solo artist.
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
||
| Let Go Let Go (Brother Phelps album) Let Go is the debut album of the American country duo Brother Phelps. The duo was formed by brothers Ricky Lee and Doug Phelps, both of whom had departed the country rock band The Kentucky Headhunters in 1993. The album's debut single, which was the title track, peaked at #6 on the Billboard... |
|
56 | 21 |
| Any Way the Wind Blows Any Way the Wind Blows (album) Any Way the Wind Blows is the second and final studio album by American country music duo Brother Phelps. After its release, Doug re-joined country rock band The Kentucky Headhunters, of which he and Ricky Lee were both members previous to Brother Phelps' inception... |
|
43 | 24 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
|||
| 1993 | "Let Go Let Go (Brother Phelps song) "Let Go" is the title of a song written by Dickie Brown and recorded by American country music duo Brother Phelps. It was released in June 1993 as the first single from their debut album, Let Go. The song reached #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in October 1993.-Music... " |
6 | 8 | Let Go |
| "Were You Really Livin'" | 28 | 54 | ||
| 1994 | "Eagle over Angel" | 53 | 54 | |
| "Ever-Changing Woman" | 62 | 90 | ||
| 1995 | "Any Way the Wind Blows" | 53 | 48 | Any Way the Wind Blows |
| "Not So Different After All" | 65 | 77 | ||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Let Go" | Steven T. Miller/R. Brad Murano |
| "Were You Really Livin'" | Sherman Halsey Sherman Halsey Sherman Halsey is an American music video and television director, producer, and artist manager. Sherman Halsey has produced and directed hundreds of television shows and music videos for artists such as Tim McGraw, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, BB King, Michael Bolton, Dwight Yoakam, and many... |
|
| 1994 | "Eagle over Angel" | Steven T. Miller/R. Brad Murano |
| "Ever-Changing Woman" | Michael McNamara | |
| 1995 | "Any Way the Wind Blows" |