Biography Wikipedia
Wikipedia:
The Lost Trailers is an American country music band. Established in 1998 at Vanderbilt University, the band originally comprised Ryder Lee (lead vocals), Stokes Nielson (vocals, lead guitar), Martin Kicklighter(drums), Greg Perkins (fiddle), T.J Klay (Harmonica), Scott Claassen (Vocals #4) and other local Nashville session players. The band self-released its debut album Story of the New Age Cowboy in 1998 and made its live debut at a Fourth of July picnic held by country singer Willie Nelson. In 2002 the band, with a different lineup, including Jeff Potter on drums, Ryder Lee (Lead Vocals), Cam McElroy (Bass), released Trailer Trash. In 2003 the lineup was finalized with Andrew Nielson replacing McElroy on bass and Manny Medina joining on rhythm guitar. After excessive touring in the greater Metro Atlantic region the band was signed in 2004 by Universal Records and recorded 2004's Welcome to the Woods on Universal/Republic. After switching to BNA Records in 2006, the band issued a self-titled effort, which produced the singles "Call Me Crazy" and "Why Me", both of which entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. A fifth album, Holler Back, was released in August 2008, producing a top 10 country hit in its title track and a top 20 in "How 'bout You Don't".
In 2011, singer/songwriter Jason Wyatt joined Stokes Nielson, launching a re-establishment of The Lost Trailers. This re-established group has released a single, "Underdog".
History
Stokes Nielson and Ryder Lee began writing and producing music together while both were attending Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia) in Alexandria, Virginia. Their first album together was the self-issued The Story of the New Age Cowboy in 2000. Initially, Ryder and Stokes worked with a bass guitarist and a drummer, forming a group known as Stokes Nielson & The Lost Trailers (later shortened to The Lost Trailers). The name was derived from the fact that the band's equipment trailers had been stolen on three separate occasions.
At the time, Stokes Nielson was also working as a disc jockey for a radio station in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2000, after an on-air interview with Willie Nelson, Stokes offered him a demo version of The Lost Trailers' material. Nelson then offered the band an opportunity to play at a Fourth of July picnic, which he held annually in Texas. Stokes took to the role of lead singer, while Ryder played keyboards and provided backing vocals. Stoke and Ryder met Cam at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA where the three attended high school. The band toured throughout the east coast, touring with bands such as Dispatch and Virginia Coalition, to name a few. Their later sound would mark a notable departure from their early indie-country-rock roots.
Eventually, the band's membership was later finalized with Stokes' younger brother, Andrew, on keyboards, Jeff Potter on drums, and Manny Medina on bass guitar. The band then gained a following throughout the Southeast and Texas, performing more than 200 shows yearly.
First albums
In 2002, The Lost Trailers recorded their second album, entitled Trailer Trash. A third album, Welcome to the Woods, followed two years later on Universal/Republic Records, although its only single failed to chart. Record producer Blake Chancey, who has worked with the Dixie Chicks and Waylon Jennings, saw the band perform at a concert in Fort Worth, Texas, and offered to work with them. Renee Bell, a talent executive for BNA Records, had also seen The Lost Trailers perform at another concert. She then recommended the band to the label's president, and The Lost Trailers were signed to a recording contract with BNA in 2006. Their first chart single, "Chicken Fried", was released in early 2006, peaking at #53 on the Hot Country Songs charts. This single was withdrawn because Zac Brown, who wrote the song, had changed his mind about licensing it to the label, and he wanted to record the song himself. Brown ultimately recorded the song as a member of the Zac Brown Band, whose rendition was a Number One hit in late 2008.
"Chicken Fried" was then withdrawn and replaced with "Call Me Crazy", which went on to peak at #43. Following it was "Why Me", which reached #45. These latter two songs were both included on The Lost Trailers' self-titled album for BNA, which was issued in August of that year.
2008
In 2008, The Lost Trailers went on a nationwide tour with fellow country music artists Keith Anderson and Chris Young. The band's fourth single for BNA, "Holler Back", was released in early 2008. "Holler Back", which reached #9 on the country charts in late 2008, is also the title track to the band's second album for BNA. The band was also nominated for Top New Vocal Duo or Group and Top Vocal Group at the 2009 Academy of Country Music awards.
Following "Holler Back" was "How 'bout You Don't", which was released in October and peaked in the Top 20. "All This Love" was originally to have been the third single, but after "Country Folks Livin' Loud" charted as an album cut, it was sent to radio as the third single instead. They have been nominated again for the 2010 Academy of Country Music Top New Vocal Group.
In May 2010, the band announced that it would disband following its last concerts in September.
2011
In 2011, The Lost Trailers released a collaboration single with Corbette Jackson, entitled "Heart Of A Champion." The song, penned by Nielson and Jackson, is inspired by Coweta County Firefighter Chris Landreau's fight against Stage 4 Cancer. Stokes Nielson also performed a special concert in Albany, Georgia with Jackson and Jason Wyatt.
After several band members left to pursue other interests, Stokes Nielson started over with The Lost Trailers, joining with collaborator and lead vocalist Jason Wyatt. The first radio single, "Underdog", was released to stations nationwide in late 2011.
