Hot Apple Pie
Encyclopedia
Hot Apple Pie was an American country music
band founded in 2002 by Brady Seals
(lead vocals), Keith Horne (bass guitar
), Trey Landry (drums
), and Mark "Sparky" Matejka (guitar
). Matjeka was replaced in 2006 by Kevin Ray. Seals was initially co-lead vocalist and keyboardist
in the band Little Texas
until 1997. Between then and 2002, he recorded three studio albums, including two for Warner Bros. Records
. Signed to DreamWorks Records
Nashville in 2005, Hot Apple Pie released its self-titled debut album
that year. This album produced three chart singles on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts, including the #26-peaking "Hillbillies."
and co-lead vocalist (alongside Tim Rushlow
) in the country band Little Texas
until 1997, when he left in pursuit of a solo career. Between then and the early 2000s, Seals recorded three albums, and charted six singles on the country charts.
After deciding that his solo career was not proving successful, Seals opted to form a second band. Guitarist Mark "Sparky" Matejka
and drummer Trey Landry, both of whom had backed Seals during his solo career, were recruited, with bass guitarist Keith Horne completing the lineup. These three musicians all had experience prior to the band's foundation. Matejka had played for Sons of the Desert
and Charlie Daniels
; Landry, for Rodney Crowell
and Suzy Bogguss
; and Horne, for Waylon Jennings
.
' Nashville division. That year, they released its debut album, also entitled Hot Apple Pie
. It produced three singles, all of which charted on the Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts: "Hillbillies", "We're Makin' Up" and "Easy Does It." Due to the dissolution of DreamWorks Records in late 2005, these latter two singles were issued on MCA Nashville. The band exited this label in 2006, the same year that Matejka left to join the Southern rock
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
. Kevin Ray took Matjeka's place in 2006. Seals released another solo album in mid-2009.
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 2002 by Brady Seals
Brady Seals
Brady Seals is an American country music artist. He is the cousin of Jim Seals and Dan Seals and Johnny Duncan, the nephew of Troy Seals, and the husband of former BNA Records recording artist Lisa Stewart...
(lead vocals), Keith Horne (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Trey Landry (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 ....
), and Mark "Sparky" Matejka (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...
). Matjeka was replaced in 2006 by Kevin Ray. Seals was initially co-lead vocalist and keyboardist
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...
in the band Little Texas
Little Texas
Little Texas is an American country music band founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1988 by Tim Rushlow , Brady Seals , Del Gray , Porter Howell , Dwayne O'Brien , and Duane Propes . Signed to Warner Bros...
until 1997. Between then and 2002, he recorded three studio albums, including two for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. Signed to 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...
Nashville in 2005, Hot Apple Pie released its self-titled debut album
Hot Apple Pie (album)
Hot Apple Pie is an eponymous debut album released by country music band Hot Apple Pie. It was released June 28, 2005 on DreamWorks Records Nashville. The tracks "Hillbillies", "We're Makin' Up" and "Easy Does It" were all released as singles, respectively reaching #26, #54 and #50 on the...
that year. This album produced three chart singles 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...
Hot Country Songs
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...
charts, including the #26-peaking "Hillbillies."
History
Brady Seals was a keyboardistKeyboard 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 co-lead vocalist (alongside Tim Rushlow
Tim Rushlow
Timothy Ray "Tim" Rushlow is an American country music artist. Between 1991 and 1997, Rushlow was co-lead vocalist of the country music band Little Texas, which recorded four albums and a Greatest Hits package, in addition to charting more than fifteen singles on the Billboard country singles...
) in the country band Little Texas
Little Texas
Little Texas is an American country music band founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1988 by Tim Rushlow , Brady Seals , Del Gray , Porter Howell , Dwayne O'Brien , and Duane Propes . Signed to Warner Bros...
until 1997, when he left in pursuit of a solo career. Between then and the early 2000s, Seals recorded three albums, and charted six singles on the country charts.
After deciding that his solo career was not proving successful, Seals opted to form a second band. Guitarist Mark "Sparky" Matejka
Mark Matejka
Mark "Sparky" Matejka is an American Southern rock guitarist. He is probably best known as a guitarist in Lynyrd Skynyrd. He joined the band in 2006, replacing Hughie Thomasson who had left to reform Outlaws...
and drummer Trey Landry, both of whom had backed Seals during his solo career, were recruited, with bass guitarist Keith Horne completing the lineup. These three musicians all had experience prior to the band's foundation. Matejka had played for Sons of the Desert
Sons of the Desert (band)
Sons of the Desert was an American country music band founded in 1989 in Waco, Texas by brothers Drew Womack and Tim Womack , along with Scott Saunders , Doug Virden and Brian Westrum...
and Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels
Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer...
; Landry, for Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
and Suzy Bogguss
Suzy Bogguss
Susan Kay "Suzy" Bogguss is an American country music singer. In the 1980s and 90s she released one platinum and three gold albums and charted six top ten singles, winning the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award.After...
; and Horne, for Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
.
First album
In 2005, Hot Apple Pie signed to DreamWorks RecordsDreamWorks 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...
' Nashville division. That year, they released its debut album, also entitled Hot Apple Pie
Hot Apple Pie (album)
Hot Apple Pie is an eponymous debut album released by country music band Hot Apple Pie. It was released June 28, 2005 on DreamWorks Records Nashville. The tracks "Hillbillies", "We're Makin' Up" and "Easy Does It" were all released as singles, respectively reaching #26, #54 and #50 on the...
. It produced three singles, all of which charted 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...
Hot Country Songs
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...
charts: "Hillbillies", "We're Makin' Up" and "Easy Does It." Due to the dissolution of DreamWorks Records in late 2005, these latter two singles were issued on MCA Nashville. The band exited this label in 2006, the same year that Matejka left to join the Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. Kevin Ray took Matjeka's place in 2006. Seals released another solo album in mid-2009.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US Country |
US 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... |
||
| Hot Apple Pie Hot Apple Pie (album) Hot Apple Pie is an eponymous debut album released by country music band Hot Apple Pie. It was released June 28, 2005 on DreamWorks Records Nashville. The tracks "Hillbillies", "We're Makin' Up" and "Easy Does It" were all released as singles, respectively reaching #26, #54 and #50 on the... |
|
6 | 60 |
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... |
US 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... |
|||
| 2005 | "Hillbillies" | 26 | 122 | Hot Apple Pie |
| "We're Makin' Up" | 54 | — | ||
| 2006 | "Easy Does It" | 50 | — | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Hillbillies" | Philip Andelman |
| "We're Makin' Up" | ||