The Red Clay Strays

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The Red Clay Strays
OriginMobile, Alabama, U.S.
GenresCountry rock[1]
Years active2016 (2016)–present
Labels
Members
  • Andrew Bishop
  • Brandon Coleman
  • Drew Nix
  • John Hall
  • Zach Rishel
Websiteredclaystrays.com

The Red Clay Strays are an American country rock band formed in Mobile, Alabama. They are best known for their 2022 single "Wondering Why", which saw success in late 2023 after going viral on the social media platform TikTok. The song became their first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 71.[2]

Career[edit]

2016–2020: Initial formation[edit]

The Red Clay Strays formed as the successor to a cover band in Mobile, Alabama in 2016, consisting of lead singer Brandon Coleman, bassist Andrew Bishop, and guitarist Drew Nix.[3] As the group started to perform more original material, they regrouped and formed the Red Clay Strays, adding drummer John Hall and guitarist Zach Rishel in the process.[3] The group continued to perform locally in smaller venues across the southeastern United States and built up a local following, signing with management company Ontourage Management in 2019.[4] In November 2019, they released the single "Good Godly Woman", which was featured in the film Doctor Sleep.[5] They followed this with the singles "No Way to Know" and "Will the Lord Remember Me" in 2020.[6][7] However, the group had to step back from touring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

2020–2023: Moment of Truth and continued growth[edit]

Funded primarily by crowdfunding efforts spurred by manager Cody Payne, the group recorded their debut studio album Moment of Truth in Huntsville, Alabama. The group self-released the album in April 2022, but did not see much commercial success initially.[4] In 2023, the group signed with talent agency WME and began talks with labels. While they initially wanted to remain independent, the group signed with Thirty Tigers in May 2023.[4] This was followed by performances at festivals including Lollapalooza and CMA Fest.[4] In August 2023, they released their first live EP as part of media platform Western AF's YouTube series Live AF.[9]

2023–present: Commercial breakthrough[edit]

Throughout 2023, the Red Clay Strays started building traction on social media, culminating in "Wondering Why" going viral on TikTok in September.[4] "Wondering Why" was initially released in March 2022 as a single from Moment of Truth and saw a boost on streaming services in late 2023 due to the Live AF performance of the song going viral.[10][11] The song became the group's first song to enter a Billboard chart when it debuted on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart at number 33 on the chart dated November 25.[10] In December, it became their first Billboard Hot 100 entry when it debuted at number 93.[11] This coincided with their Way Too Long headlining tour, which concluded in March 2024.[10] Also in March 2024, the group signed a record deal with RCA Records, followed by a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music in April 2024.[12][1] In August 2024, the group will embark on a five-show tour in Europe.[13] Additionally, the group is working on their upcoming second studio album, Made by These Moments, which will be produced by Dave Cobb and release on July 26, 2024.[13][14] The lead single from this album, "Wanna Be Loved", was released on May 22, 2024.[15] They will also appear on the Twisters soundtrack with the song "Caddo County".[16]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
US
Am./
Folk
[17] 		US
Country
[18]
Moment of Truth
  • Released: April 29, 2022[4]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 11 29
Made by These Moments
  • Scheduled: July 26, 2024[14]
  • Label: RCA
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 TBA

Live EPs[edit]

List of live EPs, with selected chart positions
Title Details
The Red Clay Strays (Live AF Session)
  • Released: August 29, 2023[9]
  • Label: Western AF
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
[2] 		US
Country
[19] 		US
Rock
[20] 		CAN
[21]
"Good Godly Woman"[5] 2019 — — — — Non-album singles
"No Way to Know"[6] 2020 — — — —
"Will the Lord Remember Me"[7] — — — —
"Doin' Time"[22] 2022 — — — — Moment of Truth
"Wondering Why"[11] 71 18 10 52
"Sunshine (Western AF Version)"[a][23] 2023 — — — —
"Wanna Be Loved"[15] 2024 — — — — Made by These Moments

Guest appearances[edit]

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Caddo County"[16] 2024 — Twisters: The Album

Tours[edit]

  • The Way Too Long Tour (2023–2024)[10]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The single version is the live recording while the version present on the album is the studio version.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Hollabaugh, Lorie (April 17, 2024). "The Red Clay Strays Sign With Warner Chappell Music". Music Row. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100: Week of February 10, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Woodward, Garret K. (February 18, 2024). "The Red Clay Strays Are Bringing Fire and Brimstone to Country Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Nicholson, Jessica (January 18, 2024). "Chartbreaker: There's No 'Wondering Why' The Red Clay Strays Are Positioned for Their Biggest Year Yet". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Red Clay Strays Premiere 'Good Godly Woman' in Advance of 'Doctor Sleep'". American Songwriter. October 31, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Haven, Rose Ann (January 25, 2020). "Red Clay Strays releases music video". WKRG. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Wake, Matt (August 3, 2020). "25 recent songs by Alabama musicians to know". AL.com. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Oldshue, Lynn (October 21, 2020). "The Red Clay Strays, a COVID-19 story from Mobile". Alabama Public Radio. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Crabtree, Mary Claire (August 29, 2023). "Red Clay Stray Kick Off 'Live AF Sessions' With Unbelievable Four-Track Set". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Zellner, Xander (November 21, 2023). "10 First-Timers on Billboard's Charts This Week: Travis Kelce, Jason Kelce, The Red Clay Strays & More". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Zellner, Xander (December 29, 2023). "Hot 100 First-Timers: The Red Clay Strays Arrive With Viral Single 'Wondering Why'". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Douglas, Hill (March 31, 2024). "Red Clay Strays Ink Major Label Record Deal With RCA Records". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Nicholson, Jessica (April 2, 2024). "The Red Clay Strays Set European Concert Dates". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Paul, Larisha (May 22, 2024). "The Red Clay Strays Preview 'Made by These Moments' With New Single 'Wanna Be Loved'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Crabtree, Mary Claire (May 13, 2024). "Red Clay Strays Announce New Single 'Wanna Be Loved' Coming Later This Month". Whiskey Riff. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Anderson, Liza (May 16, 2024). "Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert & More Featured On Forthcoming 'Twisters: The Album'". Music Row. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Americana/Folk Albums: Week of May 11, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Top Country Albums: Week of May 11, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Hot Country Songs: Week of May 11, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of May 11, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of February 17, 2024". Billboard Canada. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Doin' Time - Single by The Red Clay Strays". Spotify. January 28, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "Sunshine (Western AF Version) - Single - Album by The Red Clay Strays & Western AF". Apple Music. December 19, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
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