Gary Nichols named SteelDrivers' new singer
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Gary Nichols named SteelDrivers' new singer

Friday, April 2, 2010 – Gary Nichols, a soulful singer from Alabama, is the new lead singer for The SteelDrivers. Nichols replaces Chris Stapleton, who left the driving bluegrass band to concentrate on family andsongwriting.

"The SteelDrivers are very happy to announce that multi-talented Muscle Shoals session pro, songwriter and guitar picker Gary Nichols is joining the band. He brings a seasoned soulful voice to the mix, and rehearsals have been going very smoothly."

"The first night we met Gary he had driven up to Nashville to audition and had been asked to learn four of our songs. He sat down, had a shot of brown, and launched into Blue Side of the Mountain. Around the room, eyebrows raised and sly glances were exchanged. By the time the harmonies blended for the first chorus, we all knew he had the gig. He then ripped off the other three songs with ease, sang a couple more of ours that had caught his ear and proceeded to teach us a couple of his. After he left, the vote was unanimous. Folks, we are thrilled to have Gary with us and it feels like we are picking up right where we left off. Gary is a guy who brings it from down deep, and you'll feel it like we did when you hear him. So, all is well. The torch has been passed. The music lives on, and we'll see you there."

Nichols was signed to the Universal label in 2004 and has releases songs, but never put out a full-length CD. His first single, Unbroken Ground, reached 39 on the charts in 2007. he had two more singles and left the label.


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CD reviews for The SteelDrivers

CD review - Bad for You Throughout their existence of now more than a dozen years The SteelDrivers have been notable for their willingness to be a bluegrass band that ventures into a sort of musical "Twilight Zone," reaching across the void to draw a fervent following - "SteelHeads" - whose musical tastes and sensibilities often are more grounded in sounds ranging from hard-edged classic Delta blues to the iconic Southern rock of bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...
CD review - The Muscle Shoals Recordings The SteelDrivers are a dynamic, driving bluegrass band, a five-piece with a sound and an approach completely their own. "The Muscle Shoals Recordings" is their fourth album and second featuring expressive lead vocalist Gary Nichols and mandolinist Brent Truitt alongside group founders Tammy Rodgers (fiddle), Richard Bailey (five-string banjo), and Mike Fleming (bass). Given Nichols' roots in the Alabama community, it is hardly a surprise that The SteelDrivers chose to record at ...
CD review - Hammer Down While you wouldn't know it from reading their press, there are many bluegrass bands with as good a back-story as The SteelDrivers, and as advanced songwriting and musicianship prowess, while having deeper professional bluegrass roots and longer track records with more significant lineup alterations over a relatively brief period of time. Not to begrudge The SteelDrivers notice they receive, sometimes it feels a bit over the top. But darn it, they know how to produce a mighty inspiring bluegrass album. ...


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