The SteelDrivers

The SteelDrivers
The SteelDrivers performing on the Taylor Guitars showroom stage, on January 22, 2015
The SteelDrivers performing on the Taylor Guitars showroom stage, on January 22, 2015
Background information
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Bluegrass
Years active 2005–present
Labels Rounder
Members
  • Richard Bailey
  • Matt Dame
  • Mike Fleming
  • Tammy Rogers
  • Brent Truitt
Past members
Website thesteeldrivers.com

The SteelDrivers are a bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Members include fiddler Tammy Rogers, bassist Mike Fleming, guitarist/vocalist Matt Dame, mandolinist Brent Truitt, and banjoist Richard Bailey. Past members include Kelvin Damrell, Chris Stapleton, Gary Nichols, and Mike Henderson. The band has recorded four albums on the Rounder Records label and one independent live album recorded at The Station Inn. The band has received several Grammy nominations and won a Grammy for the album The Muscle Shoals Recordings.

Career

After playing at many bluegrass festivals The SteelDrivers signed to Rounder Records and released a self-titled debut in 2008, featuring new lead singer Chris Stapleton. The album peaked at No. 57 on the U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The group was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their song "Blue Side of the Mountain." In 2010, the group received two nominations for its second album, Reckless. The album has been nominated for both Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "Where Rainbows Never Die".

Stapleton announced in April 2010, that he was leaving the band to focus on raising his family. He was replaced by former Mercury Records artist Gary Nichols on lead vocals and guitar. In December 2011, founding member Mike Henderson left the band. Henderson was replaced by Nashville musician and record producer Brent Truitt. In 2015, the new lineup received a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for its new album The Muscle Shoals Recordings. In 2018, Kelvin Damrell became the band's new lead singer and debuted on the 2020 release Bad for You. In July 2021 Kelvin Damrell announced his departure from the band, and the band simultaneously announced the addition of Matt Dame as lead singer.

Discography

Albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
US Grass
 US Country
 US Heat
The SteelDrivers 2 57 —
Reckless
  • Release date: September 7, 2010
  • Label: Rounder Records
 2 — 17
Hammer Down
  • Release date: February 5, 2013
  • Label: Rounder Records
 1 — 6
The Muscle Shoals Recordings
  • Release date: June 16, 2015
  • Label: Rounder Records
 1 — 5
Bad for You
  • Release date: February 7, 2020
  • Label: Rounder Records
 1 — —
  • US: 2,700
Tougher Than Nails
  • Release date: September 8, 2023
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

2013 Blue Side of the Mountain
2013 "I'll Be There" Dycee Wildman
"Wearin' a Hole"
2015 "Long Way Down"

Awards and nominations

Grammy awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Blue Side of the Mountain" Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated
2011 Reckless Best Bluegrass Album Nominated
"Where Rainbows Never Die" Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Nominated
2015 The Muscle Shoals Recordings Best Bluegrass Album Won