Emerson Drive
Encyclopedia
Emerson Drive is a 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...

 band founded in Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 in 1995. The band is Brad Mates (lead vocals), Danick Dupelle (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...

s and backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...

), Mike Melancon (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....

), Dale Wallace (keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...

 and backing vocals), and David Pichette (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...

).

Early on, the band found minor success in Canada, releasing two albums under the name of 12 Gauge, the first Open Season was a product of winning a local "Battle of the Bands" contest. They then charted two singles on the Canadian country charts and a music video on CMT. By 1999, they changed the name to Emerson Drive, and had moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 to find a major label record deal. Emerson Drive recorded two albums on the DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...

 label, and charted several hits on both the U.S. and Canadian country music charts. After DreamWorks' collapse in 2005, Emerson Drive signed to Midas Records Nashville
Midas Records Nashville
Midas Records is an American independent record label specializing in country music and contemporary Christian music. It was founded in August 2005 by Ron Clapper, Keith Follesé and Brad Allen. The label partnered with New Revolution not long after opening...

, where they resumed their streak of hit singles, including their first Number One single in "Moments
Moments (Emerson Drive song)
"Moments" is a song by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. Released in both Canada and the United States, the song was a Top Five hit on the Canadian country music charts. It also reached Number One on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs charts, becoming the first Number One single not only...

". In summer 2008, Midas Records closed their country division. Emerson Drive then signed with The Valory Music Co. and the CD which Emerson Drive had been working on, Believe
Believe (Emerson Drive album)
Believe is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. The album was released in Canada on May 5, 2009 via Midas/Valory/Open Road. The album's first single, "Belongs to You," reached the top forty on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States.-Critical...

, became a co-partnership with Midas Records, who kept ownership of the CD while The Valory Music Co. was in charge of promotion and distribution of Emerson Drive and Believe.

12 Gauge

Emerson Drive was formed under the name of 12 Gauge in February 1995 when Brad Mates entered a talent contest at his local high school in Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...

. Through the contest, Mates met fiddler Pat Allingham and keyboardist Chris Hartman. Mates, Hartman, and Allingham decided to form a band with guitarists Dan Binns and David Switzer, bass guitarist Jeff Loberg, and drummer Remi Barre. The band started practicing in Mates' basement and entering singing contests. In 1996, the group entered a local "Battle of the Bands" contest and won the opportunity to write and record an EP titled Open Season.

12 Gauge began work on first studio album, Until You Walk the Tracks, the following year. Throughout 1997 and 1998, the group had been touring around Canada to support their album and charted two songs in Canada, including the top 40 single, "Some Trains Never Come", which peaked at #36 on the RPM
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,...

Country Tracks chart in 1998. Both singles featured music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

s that received airplay on CMT Canada. In early 1998, the group received a nomination for Top New Group or Duo at the RPM Big Country Awards, but lost to Montana Sky.

By this time, Switzer had left the group and drummer Remi Barre had been replaced by Derrick Kuzemchuk. Soon after the release, Binns left the group. He was replaced by Dan Bauman, who stayed with the band for just over a year. By the end of 1998, Binns and Kuzemchuk left the group. Shortly after, the band hired Gerry Leiske as their manager, replacing previous manager Lionel Allingham, who was Pat Allingham's father. Leiske introduced the band to guitarist Danick Dupelle, who had been performing with Canadian country trio Farmer's Daughter, whom Leiske also managed. Drummer Mike Melancon was also brought in to replace Kuzemchuk .

Name change to Emerson Drive

As the band had been finding success in Canada, they decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 for an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 record deal. When attempting to gain a record contract in Nashville, the group was forced to change their name due to an American rap group already owning the name 12 Gauge. The band settled on Emerson Drive, which was named for the Emerson Trail that crosses Western Alberta and joins the Alaskan Highway.

The group caught the attention of executives at DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...

, who signed the group to a record deal in 2000. Emerson Drive's debut American single, "I Should Be Sleeping
I Should Be Sleeping
"I Should Be Sleeping" is the title of a song written by Shaye Smith and Lisa Drew, and recorded by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. It was released in October 2001 as their first single from their debut self-titled album, Emerson Drive. The song reached the Top 5 on the U.S. Billboard...

", was released in November 2001. The song went on to become a top five hit for the group on the Billboard Hot Country Single & Tracks
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...

 chart in 2002, peaking at #3. "I Should Be Sleeping" also cracked the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

, peaking at #35. Emerson Drive's debut album was originally scheduled to be released in January 2002, but was delayed when DreamWorks executives found two new songs and brought in singer-songwriter Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...

 to produce. The album was eventually released in May 2002. The album debuted at #13 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #108 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

. The album's second single, "Fall into Me", one of the two new songs Marx produced, was issued in late 2002 and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and #34 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beginning in August 2002, the band went through member changes with departure of bassist Jeff Loberg, who exited the group to focus on his songwriting. Loberg was replaced by Patrick Bourque shortly after. Keyboardist Chris Hartman was replaced by Dale Wallace after he left to return to school in early 2003. By June 2003, Pat Allingham left the group to spend more time with his family and was replaced by David Pichette.

What If?

Emerson Drive once again recruited Richard Marx to produce their second album, What If?
What If? (Emerson Drive album)
What If? is the fourth album by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. It was released in 2004 as their final release for DreamWorks Records Nashville. "Last One Standing" and "November" were both released in the U.S. as singles, peaking at #21 and #41, respectively, on the Billboard country...

. The album's first single, "Waitin' on Me", was released to Canada only in late 2003 and followed shortly by "Last One Standing", released in both Canada and the United States, in January 2004. While the band recorded their second album, they opened most North American shows on Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...

's Up! Tour
Up! Tour
The Up! Tour is the second concert tour by Canadian singer–songwriter Shania Twain in support of her fourth studio album, Up!. The show reached North America and Europe...

. The tour began on September 25, 2003 and ended on July 10, 2004. The group's second album was released in June 2004 and debuted at #12 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Despite having success in Canada, the band was struggling in the United States and were dropped from DreamWorks in late 2004. Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...

 closed the struggling DreamWorks Nashville the following year. The group was able to release two more singles from What If? in Canada through Universal Music Canada in 2005.

New label and release of Countrified

In late 2005, Keith Follesé and Brad Allen were launching a new record label, Midas Records Nashville
Midas Records Nashville
Midas Records is an American independent record label specializing in country music and contemporary Christian music. It was founded in August 2005 by Ron Clapper, Keith Follesé and Brad Allen. The label partnered with New Revolution not long after opening...

, when they heard Emerson Drive. Follesé and Allen quickly signed the band to the label and began working on Emerson Drive's third album. Country band Alabama
Alabama (band)
Alabama is a country music and southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama, United States. The band was founded in 1969 by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry , soon joined by Jeff Cook...

's Teddy Gentry and veteran Nashville musician and songwriter Josh Leo
Josh Leo
Josh Leo is an American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer active in Nashville, Tennessee.Leo was born in Des Moines, Iowa, but was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1973, he moved to Chicago, Illinois and subsequently became a guitarist of the short-lived Eddie Boy Band...

 were brought in to produce the band's fifth album, Countrified
Countrified (Emerson Drive album)
Countrified is the fifth album by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. It was released in 2006 as their first issue for the Midas Records label. In the U.S., the album produced three singles on the Hot Country Songs charts: "A Good Man", "Moments" , and "You Still Own Me"...

, which was released in September 2006, debuting at #30 on the Billboard Top Country Songs chart.

The album's first single, "A Good Man
A Good Man
"A Good Man" is the title of a song recorded by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. It was released in March 2006 as the first single released from their album, Countrified. The song reached the Top 20 on the U.S...

," reached #17 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in late 2006 and was followed by "Moments
Moments (Emerson Drive song)
"Moments" is a song by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. Released in both Canada and the United States, the song was a Top Five hit on the Canadian country music charts. It also reached Number One on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs charts, becoming the first Number One single not only...

", which gave the group their first number one single. Emerson Drive became the first Canadian based group to reach number one and the fifth Canadian act overall. "Moments" was followed in Canada by the top five hit "Testify" and in the United States by the top 25 hit "You Still Own Me
You Still Own Me
"You Still Own Me" is a single by Scottish-Canadian country music artist Johnny Reid. It was recorded on his 2005 album Born to Roll.-Emerson Drive version:...

", a cover the 2004 Johnny Reid
Johnny Reid
Johnny Reid is a country music artist who has charted several hit singles in Canada. Reid moved to Canada in July, 1988 when he was 13. His father, a diesel mechanic, wanted to give Reid and his brother opportunities he did not think they would have in Scotland...

 single.

Death of Patrick Bourque, and release of Believe

Patrick Bourque, formerly the band's bass guitarist, resigned from the band in August 2007 for an unknown reason. On September 26, of that same year, he was found dead in his Montreal, Quebec home. At the time, the cause of death was not released by police and was eventually determined to be a suicide. The members of Emerson Drive learned of his death while traveling to a concert in Valentine, Nebraska
Valentine, Nebraska
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,820 people, 1,209 households, and 733 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,401.1 people per square mile . There were 1,373 housing units at an average density of 682.2 per square mile...

. In November, the band talked with CBC News
CBC News
CBC News is the department within the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the news gathering and production of news programs on CBC television, radio and online services...

 saying they had known that Bourque had been unhappy, but "nobody could do anything for him". The band recovered from Bourque's death and began recording their sixth album in 2008.

In November 2008, the band released their first new single, "Belongs to You
Belongs to You
"Belongs to You" is a country music song written by Dave Berg, Rivers Rutherford, and Tom Shapiro, and recorded by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive, who released it as a single in November 2008...

", on Midas and new label Valory Music Group, which began to promote the band in mid-2008. The song peaked at #32 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in March 2009 and the new album, Believe
Believe (Emerson Drive album)
Believe is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. The album was released in Canada on May 5, 2009 via Midas/Valory/Open Road. The album's first single, "Belongs to You," reached the top forty on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States.-Critical...

, was delayed. The album eventually came out in May 2009 in Canada only. Due to a dispute with the band's record label, Midas Records, the album was not released in the United States at the time. Despite this, the group has achieved three more top ten hits in Canada with "Believe," "I Love This Road," and "The Extra Mile." The band left Valory Music Group and Midas in 2009. In 2010, the band acquired the rights to Believe
Believe (Emerson Drive album)
Believe is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. The album was released in Canada on May 5, 2009 via Midas/Valory/Open Road. The album's first single, "Belongs to You," reached the top forty on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States.-Critical...

 and will release the album in the United States under the group's own label, Amdian Music Co. in 2011. The first single, "That Kind of Beautiful", was released in Canada in June 2010 and was released in the United States in August. The band recorded new music that will replace several tracks on the U.S. version of Believe. During this time, the band signed with Open Road Recordings
Open Road Recordings
Open Road Recordings, a division of Maple Core Ltd., is a Canadian country music record label established by Ron Kitchener in 2003 and distributed through Universal Music Canada.-Open Road artists:* Ridley Bent* Dean Brody* Doc Walker* Emerson Drive...

 which will release and promote the band's music in Canada.

Decade of Drive

Open Road Recordings released the band's first greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...

 album, Decade of Drive
Decade of Drive
Decade of Drive is the first greatest hits album by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. The album was released in Canada on February 8, 2011 via Open Road Recordings. The album features 13 of the band's hits and three new songs...

, on February 8, 2011 in Canada. The album's first single, "When I See You Again", was released in November 2010. The song was written as a tribute to deceased member Patrick Bourque. The album will feature the band's biggest hits and new previously unreleased songs. A deluxe edition with acoustic recordings and another unreleased track is also expected to be released at a later date. During January 2011, Emerson Drive signed with Quarterback Records to release their next American single, "Let Your Love Speak", to U.S. radio on February 28, 2011. The band began the Decade and Driving Tour on February 8, 2011 in Canada with stops in several cities and towns across Canada. The United States leg of the tour will begin in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...

 on April 8. The album's third single "Sleep It Off" released to Canadian country radio in 2011.

Studio albums

  • Open Season (1996)
  • Until You Walk the Tracks (1997)
  • Emerson Drive
    Emerson Drive (album)
    Emerson Drive is the third studio album from Canadian country music band Emerson Drive and their major-label debut, it was released in 2002 on DreamWorks Records Nashville. It produced three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts: the Top 5 hits "I Should Be Sleeping" and "Fall Into Me",...

    (2002)
  • What If?
    What If? (Emerson Drive album)
    What If? is the fourth album by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. It was released in 2004 as their final release for DreamWorks Records Nashville. "Last One Standing" and "November" were both released in the U.S. as singles, peaking at #21 and #41, respectively, on the Billboard country...

    (2004)
  • Countrified
    Countrified (Emerson Drive album)
    Countrified is the fifth album by Canadian country music band Emerson Drive. It was released in 2006 as their first issue for the Midas Records label. In the U.S., the album produced three singles on the Hot Country Songs charts: "A Good Man", "Moments" , and "You Still Own Me"...

    (2006)
  • Believe
    Believe (Emerson Drive album)
    Believe is the sixth studio album by Canadian country music group Emerson Drive. The album was released in Canada on May 5, 2009 via Midas/Valory/Open Road. The album's first single, "Belongs to You," reached the top forty on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States.-Critical...

    (2009)

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Category Result
1998 RPM Big Country Awards
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,...

Top New Group or Duo (as 12 Gauge)
2002 Billboard Magazine Year End Awards Top New Artist
Canadian Country Music Association
Canadian Country Music Association
The Canadian Country Music Association was founded in 1976 as the Academy of Country Music Entertainment to organize, promote and develop a Canadian country music industry. The association changed its name to the Canadian Country Music Association in 1987.-Awards:The CCMA held the first Canadian...

Group or Duo of the Year
Chevy Trucks
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...

 Rising Star Award
Album of the Year – Emerson Drive
Single of the Year – "I Should Be Sleeping"
CMT Music Video of the Year – "I Should Be Sleeping"
Radio & Records
Radio & Records
Radio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...

 Year-End Awards
Top New Artist MVP
2003 Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...

Top New Vocal Group or Duo
Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year
CMT Flameworthy Awards
CMT Music Awards
The CMT Music Awards is a fan-voted awards show for country music videos and television performances. The awards ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee, and broadcast live on CMT. Voting takes place on CMT's website, CMT.com.-History:...

Breakthrough Video of the Year – "Fall into Me"
Juno Awards Country Recording of the Year – Emerson Drive
2004 Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year
CMT Music Video of the Year – "Last One Standing"
2005 Group or Duo of the Year
2006 Group or Duo of the Year
CMT Music Video of the Year – "A Good Man"
2007 Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Group
Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year
CMT Music Video of the Year – "Moments"
Album of the Year – Countrified
Single of the Year – "Moments"
Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...

Vocal Group of the Year
Music Video of the Year – "Moments"
Inspirational Country Music Awards Video of the Year – "Moments"
Juno Awards Country Recording of the Year – Countrified
2008 Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Group
Canadian Country Music Association Fans' Choice Award
Group or Duo of the Year
CMT Online Awards No.1 Digitally Active Group of the Year
Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...

Vocal Group of the Year
Dove Awards Special Event Album of the Year – Songs 4 Worship: Country
Grammy Awards Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals – "Moments"
2009 Canadian Country Music Association Group or Duo of the Year
2010 Juno Awards Country Album of the Year – Believe

External links

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