King Wilkie
| King Wilkie | |
|---|---|
 King Wilkie circa 2006 |
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| Background information | |
| Genres | Acoustic, bluegrass, folk |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Rounder Records, Zoe Records, Rebel Records, Casa Nueva |
| Website | Official website |
King Wilkie is an American music group formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2002 by Reid Burgess and Ted Pitney. While their early sound was commonly filed under bluegrass, the group has continually defied expectations, drawing from other influences, such as folk and Americana music. They have released three critically acclaimed albums.
Contents |
[edit] History
After releasing a 2004 debut album on Rebel Records, they were hailed by bluegrass purists as the music's great young hope. Their second album, Low Country Suite, released in 2007 on Rounder Records was a stylistic departure produced by engineer Jim Scott, well known for his work with Rick Rubin, Tom Petty, and the Dixie Chicks. Since 2008 Burgess has remained the one constant member.
King Wilkie has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Appearances on NPR, The Grand Ole Opry, and Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble, combined with festival performances and radio airplay have fueled the band's popularity, eventually resulting in their album Low Country Suite climbing into the top 20 on the Billboard charts for Americana music.
On April 28, 2009, King Wilkie released King Wilkie Presents: The Wilkie Family Singers, an expansive concept album on the newly-minted Casa Nueva label. Consisting of songs written and recorded by the fictional Wilkie family, it is their most wide-ranging and ambitious project yet. The album features a core sound of rickety old-time American music, embroidered with Salvation Army brass, quirky melodies, and an almost cinematic sense of scope. It also features special guests Robyn Hitchcock, David Bromberg, Peter Rowan and others.
[edit] Band name
The band is named after Bill Monroe's horse "King Wilkie".
[edit] Honors, awards, and distinctions
- King Wilkie's 2004 debut Broke remained #1 on the Bluegrass album chart for several weeks.
- Made their debut on The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium in 2005.
- On April 14, 2006 King Wilkie appeared with Ralph Stanley at The Town Hall in New York City.
- In 2006 King Wilkie released an EP Tierra del Fuego, recorded in Nashville.
- In 2007 King Wilkie released Low Country Suite, recorded in Los Angeles.
- On June 22, 2010 a project titled Wilkie Family Singers Live was released as a digital download.
[edit] References
- ^ RECIPIENT HISTORY - IBMA AWARDS International Bluegrass Music Association official webpage.
[edit] External links
- kingwilkie.com (official site)
- kingwilkie.net (forum)
