The Band Perry is an American country group composed of siblings Kimberly Perry (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Reid Perry (bass guitar, background vocals), and Neil Perry (mandolin, drums, accordion, background vocals). They signed to Republic Nashville in August 2009 and released their self-titled debut album on October 12, 2010. From this album, "If I Die Young" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts and has been certified quadruple platinum. Their second album, Pioneer, was released April 2, 2013. It produced additional number one singles in "Better Dig Two" and "Done", plus the Top 10 hits "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" and "Chainsaw". In the spring of 2016, the trio parted ways with the Big Machine Label Group and later signed to Interscope Records with the intention of transitioning to pop music.
Career
Formation and early career
Kimberly Perry sang in her own band as a teenager with her brothers Neil and Reid working as roadies. At ages 8 and 10, the brothers began performing as an opening act, the Mobile Music Machines, for Kimberly. Once they had united to form The Band Perry, they joined a New Faces of Country tour in 2005. In 2008, they were discovered by Garth Brooks' manager Bob Doyle, who helped them make recordings that were sent to Scott Borchetta, head of the newly established Republic Nashville label. They signed to Republic Nashville in August 2009 and released their debut single "Hip to My Heart". All three members wrote it with Brett Beavers. The song peaked at No. 20 on the country chart. A self-titled extended play followed in April.
2010-12: The Band Perry
After "Hip to My Heart" fell from the charts, The Band Perry released their second single, "If I Die Young", written by Kimberly. "If I Die Young" and "Hip to My Heart" are on the band's self-titled debut album, released on October 12, 2010. The album was produced by Paul Worley and Nathan Chapman. "If I Die Young" reached No. 1 on the country music chart, and No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album's third single, "You Lie", was written by Brian Henningsen, Aaron Henningsen, and Clara Henningsen. It debuted in December 2010 and hit No. 2 in 2011. After it, "All Your Life" reached number 1 in February 2012, and "Postcard from Paris" reached number 6. As of June, 2012 the album had sold 1.3 million copies.
2012-14: Pioneer
In mid-2012, the band began working with producer Rick Rubin on their second album, Pioneer, which was released on April 2, 2013. The album's first single, "Better Dig Two", was released to country radio on October 30, 2012. The album's second single, "Done", charted in March 2013 ahead of its release date. It reached number 1 on the Country Airplay chart in August 2013.
Pioneer ended up being produced by Dann Huff and became the group's first number one on the Top Country Albums chart in addition to reaching the number two spot on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album's third single, "Don't Let Me Be Lonely", was released to country radio on August 26, 2013. It reached number 2 on the Country Airplay chart in February 2014. The album's fourth single, "Chainsaw", which was originally recorded by the group Old Dominion, was released to country radio on March 3, 2014. The song peaked at number 10 on Country Airplay. Later that year, they recorded a cover of the Glen Campbell hit, "Gentle on My Mind", for the documentary about the singer titled Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, which was released as a standalone single.
2015-present: Label change and transition to pop
On August 14, 2015, the band released their new single called "Live Forever", the first single off their upcoming third studio album. One of the musicians they collaborated with on "Live Forever" is pop producer RedOne (Lady Gaga, Enrique Iglesias). The music video for it premiered on August 15, 2015 on CMT.
On March 1, 2016, The Band Perry parted ways with their record label, Republic Nashville. Billboard announced on May 12, 2016 that the band had signed with Interscope Records. According to the magazine, The Band Perry is transitioning to pop music but will continue releasing select singles to the country format through sister label UMG Nashville. Their third studio album, tentatively titled Heart + Beat, will include material recorded while the trio was signed to Republic Nashville (including "Live Forever") as well as new songs.
Personal lives
On September 30, 2013, Kimberly became engaged to J.P. Arencibia, at that time a catcher with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. They were married on June 12, 2014 in Greeneville, Tennessee. Kimberly and her brothers are the niece and nephews of baseball author and journalist Dayn Perry.
The band performed in the pre-game show of Super Bowl XLVIII, on Sunday, February 2, 2014. It gained positive publicity after offering to cover the burial expenses for the funerals of nine people (a mother and eight of her children) killed in an accidental house fire in the Greenville, Kentucky area, in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. The band is also paying the costs of family members' hotel expenses while the father and the surviving daughter are being treated for burns at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Philanthropy
The Band Perry started their November tour in September by putting on a concert to benefit Heifer International and their fight to end global hunger.
Discography
Main article: The Band Perry discography- The Band Perry (2010)
- Pioneer (2013)
Tours
- Headlining
- We Are Pioneers World Tour with Lindsay Ell & Easton Corbin (2013-2014)
- Supporting
- All the Women I Am Tour (2011) with Reba McEntire
- Virtual Reality Tour (2012) with Brad Paisley
- Live & Loud Tour (2013) with Rascal Flatts
- Ten Times Crazier Tour (2014) with Blake Shelton
- C2C: Country to Country (2014) with Chris Young, Rascal Flatts and headliner Brad Paisley
Awards and nominations
Year | Association | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Nominated |
American Country Awards | New/Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
Duo/Group of the Year | Nominated | ||
2011 | 53rd Grammy Awards | Best Country Song — "If I Die Young" | Nominated |
Academy of Country Music Awards | Top New Vocal Duo or Group | Won | |
Top New Artist | Won | ||
Top Vocal Group | Nominated | ||
Single Record of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | ||
Song of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | ||
2011 Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Song — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | |
CMT Music Awards | Video of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | |
Group Video of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | ||
USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Won | ||
Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award | Won | ||
2011 Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Country Single — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | |
Choice Music: Country Group | Nominated | ||
Inspirational Country Music Awards | Inspirational Video — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | |
Country Music Association Awards | New Artist of the Year | Won | |
Vocal Group of the Year | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Won | ||
Song of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Won | ||
Music Video of the Year — "If I Die Young" | Nominated | ||
American Music Awards | Sprint New Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
Country Music: Favorite Band, Duo or Group | Nominated | ||
Country Music: Favorite Album — The Band Perry | Nominated | ||
American Country Awards | Artist of the Year: Duo or Group | Nominated | |
Artist of the Year: New Artist | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year: Duo or Group — "You Lie" | Nominated | ||
Single of the Year: New Artist — "You Lie" | Nominated | ||
Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration — "You Lie" | Nominated | ||
Music Video: New Artist — "You Lie" | Nominated | ||
2012 | 54th Grammy Awards | Best New Artist | Nominated |
Academy of Country Music Awards | Vocal Group of The Year | Nominated | |
2012 Billboard Music Awards | Top Country Album: The Band Perry | Nominated | |
CMT Music Awards | Group Video of The Year - "All Your Life" | Nominated | |
2012 Teen Choice Awards | Country Group | Nominated | |
Country Music Association Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Nominated | |
American Country Awards | Artist of the Year: Group | Nominated | |
Single of the Year: Group- "All Your Life" | Nominated | ||
Music Video of the Year: Group- "All Your Life" | Nominated | ||
2013 | British Country Music Association Awards | International Act of the Year | Nominated |
Academy of Country Music Awards | Top Vocal Group | Won | |
CMT Music Awards | Group Video of the Year - "Better Dig Two" | Nominated | |
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Break-Up Song- "DONE." | Nominated | |
Choice Music: Country Group | Nominated | ||
2014 | ACM Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Won |
CMT Awards | Group Video of the Year - "DONE." | Won | |
CMT Performance Video of the Year - "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up)" | Nominated | ||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Country Group | Nominated | |
CMA Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Nominated | |
2015 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Country Group | Nominated |
57th Grammy Awards | Best Country Duo/Group Performance - "Gentle on My Mind" | Won | |
ACM Awards | Vocal Group of the Year | Nominated | |
CMA Awards | Nominated | ||
2016 | People's Choice Awards | Favorite Country Group | Nominated |