It all began as 12 Gauge in the basement of lead singer Brad Mates’ Grande Prairie, Alberta home. After cutting their teeth at bars and festivals, the band caught the attention of manager Gerry Leiske, who at the time was managing Farmer’s Daughter. Danick Dupelle, a guitarist from Montreal, Quebec and drummer Mike Melancon were added to the band. After a name change to Emerson Drive, the band packed up and moved south to Nashville, Tennessee and began chasing a record deal.
In 2000, they signed to DreamWorks Nashville and began working on their first album. In late 2001, their first single ‘I Should Be Sleeping’ hit radio, becoming a hit in Canada and in the US, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Country Charts. Their self-titled debut album hit shelves in spring on 2002, and the single ‘Fall Into Me’ followed the release. It became another hit for the band, peaking just short of #1, at #2.
[mycred_video id=”6htDEFyhA9Q” width=”620″ height=”340”]
Later that year, more changes were added to the band, and keyboardist Dale Wallace, fiddle player David Pichette, and bassist Patrick Bourque all joined the band. They began working on album #2 with famed music veteran Richard Marx.
What If produced the hits ‘Last One Standing’, ‘Waiting On Me’, ‘If You Were My Girl’ and ‘November’. Fellow Canadian Shania Twain was getting ready to head out on her North American Up! Tour, and called on the guys to open nearly all of the shows. They toured with the superstar from Fall 2003 to Summer 2004 throughout Canada and the United States.
[mycred_video id=nXcn6gZAI2g”” width=”620″ height=”340”]
After coming off the tour, the radio singles off What If weren’t as successful in the United States as in Canada, and the band was dropped from their Nashville label. They soon-after signed with Midas Records Nashville and began working on their next album. Together they would work with producers Josh Leo and Alabama bassist Teddy Gentry. The lead single ‘A Good Man’ became a hit in Canada, and Countrified was released in Fall 2006.
Their proudest moment came in June of 2007 when their single ‘Moments’ went #1 on the Billboard Country Charts in the US during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. All eyes were on the band from Canada and their hit song. They were, and still are, the only band from Canada to have a #1 country single in the US.
[mycred_video id=”JzriEXPJ1-k” width=”620″ height=”340”]
2007 was the year of the highs of highs and ultimate lows. Bass player Patrick Bourque left the band in August for personal reasons. On September 26th of that year, Patrick was found dead in his Montreal home, which was later discovered was due to suicide.
In 2008, the band released Believe, which spun the hit singles in Canada, ‘Belongs to You’, ‘I Love This Road’, ‘The Extra Mile’, ‘That Kind of Beautiful’ and the title track. The band and Midas Records/ Valory Music parted ways in 2009.
[mycred_video id=”c-xqYLntZqI” width=”620″ height=”340”]
There was no better time than to team up with one of Canada’s leading record labels, Open Road Recordings, and release a greatest hits package. Decade of Drive hit store shelves in 2010 and included new music from the band. ‘Sleep It Off’ and ‘Let Your Love Speak’ became instant smashes. The most personal song though was ‘When I See You Again’, which was written in memory of former bassist Patrick Bourque. The music video was directed by fiddle player, David Pichette.
[mycred_video id=”CkLbMlvDH64″ width=”620″ height=”340”]
In 2012 at the Canadian Country Music Awards, Emerson Drive and their buddies Doc Walker teamed up to perform ‘Let It Roll’, which was a taste of what was to come on their new album – and later became a preview of a tour that would be announced combining two of Canada’s best. After two years of writing and recording, their most personal album yet, Roll was released on October 30th, 2012. Lead singer Brad Mates and guitarist Danick Dupelle wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 11 tracks. The album’s lead single ‘She’s My Kind of Crazy’ has sold over 33,000 digital copies. It was also announced the ED and Doc Walker would head out and co-headline the CMT Hitlist Tour in March 2013, along with Aaron Pritchett.
After changing band members, changing hairstyles,and changing labels, Emerson Drive is still one of Canada’s favourite bands, continuing to play shows for adoring fans across both Canada and the US. Although they no longer spend 300 plus days on the road a year, they have found the balance of the road and roots. They also continue to make music that is fresh, yet stays true to who they are as artists. It’s safe to say Emerson Drive will keep on rollin’ out the hit singles.
[mycred_video id=”TtQ7TXvZOPI” width=”620″ height=”340”]
