Blackjack Billy

Last updated
Blackjack Billy
Origin Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres Country rock
Years active2012–present
Labels Independent
Website blackjackbilly.com
MembersNoll Billings
Jeff Coplan
Weston Jordan
Clayton Shay
Past membersRob Blackledge
Patrick Cornell
Ian Munsick
Brad Cummings

Blackjack Billy is an American country rock group composed of Noll Billings (vocals), Clayton Shay (vocals, bass guitar), Jeff Coplan (electric guitar), and Weston Jordan (drums). Based in Nashville, they describe their music as "Redneck Rock." [1] Their debut single, "The Booze Cruise," was independently released in March 2013. [2]

Contents

SiriusXM satellite radio's new country channel "The Highway" began playing "The Booze Cruise" as a Highway "Find." It's cited as the biggest-selling song on iTunes by any band without a major record deal in the first half of 2013. As of Aug 12, 2013, the song has sold more than 100K in the US and more than 150K worldwide. [3] It reached platinum status in Canada and Australia.

Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave "The Booze Cruise" four stars out of five, writing that "clever lyrics and a melody that grabs your attention like that hottie oiling up with sunblock make this an easy song to finish before you realize you’ve begun." [4] The song was written by Noll Billings, Jeff Coplan and Chuck Jones on August 24, 2011. A writing session was set for that very hot summer day in Nashville, when Billings said that a fun way to spend that day would be to get on a booze cruise. The song was written in 45 minutes.

The single "Drinking all weekend" was released in 2020.

Founders

Rob Blackledge is originally from Madison, Mississippi and toured as a solo artist while attending the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Blackledge co-wrote Love & Theft's first top 10 single "Runaway" with LNT's Stephen Barker Liles and Canaan Smith. [5] (Liles is a musician often cited as the inspiration for Taylor Swift's song "Hey Stephen," from her second studio album "Fearless.") "Runaway" reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Noll Billings is originally from Kennett, Missouri and while pursuing a solo career, he signed a publishing deal as a songwriter with EMI Music Group. [6]

Jeff Coplan is originally from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and lived in New York before relocating to Nashville. Coplan is a songwriter and musician who began producing and engineering projects for others; including Bowling for Soup, Love and Theft, and Tim Hicks. Coplan, together with Robert Ellis Orrall, developed the group Love and Theft and produced their first album. Coplan also co-wrote their #1 hit Angel Eyes with LNT's Eric Gunderson and Eric Paslay. [7] Coplan jumped back onstage with Blackjack Billy, and publishing company is Roots Three Music/Ole. [8]

The three met in Nashville and began writing songs together. Blackjack Billy band members are considered a part of the so-called "young crop" of country artists finding success; Coplan and Blackledge were on a softball team from 2009-2010 together with Gunderson and Liles of Love and Theft, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Canaan Smith.

Brad Cummings joined in 2012. Cummings is originally from Hendersonville, Tennessee, and previous played drums for Randy Houser and Bobby Bare Jr.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetails
Rebel Child
  • Release date: September 19, 2014
  • Label: Blackjack Billy

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeak positions
US Heat
Get Some25

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions Certifications Album
US Country
[9] 		US Country Airplay CAN Country
[10] 		CAN
[11]
2013"The Booze Cruise"46—3141Get Some
"Get Some"—55——
2014"Blood, Sweat and Beer"————
"Sugar Cane"————Rebel Child
"Run" (with The Road Hammers and Doc Walker)——35—TBD
2015"Why God Made Summertime"————
"Night Light"————
2016"Tread"————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
2012"Born to Ride"
2013"The Booze Cruise"Aaron Thomas
2014"Got a Feeling" (with Tim Hicks)Adam Rothlein
"Run" (with The Road Hammers and Doc Walker)
2016"Tread"

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryResult
2014 Canadian Country Music Association CMT Video of the Year – "Got a Feeling"Nominated

Related Research Articles

Love and Theft (duo)

Love and Theft is an American country music group founded by Stephen Barker Liles, Eric Gunderson, and Brian Bandas, all three of whom alternated as lead singers and acoustic guitarists. Signed to Lyric Street Records subsidiary Carolwood Records in 2009, Love and Theft made their chart debut in early 2009 with the single "Runaway," which reached the Top 10 on Billboard Hot Country Songs. The band's debut album, World Wide Open, was released on August 25, 2009.

"Hey Stephen" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). She wrote the song inspired by her harbored feelings for Stephen Barker Lilies of country music duo Love and Theft, who had toured with her. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the track is a country pop song featuring a subdued Hammond organ in the instrumental, with lyrics about an unrequited love.

Runaway (Love and Theft song) 2009 single by Love and Theft

"Runaway" is a debut song written by Stephen Barker Liles, Robert Blackledge and Canaan Smith and recorded by American country music group Love and Theft. It is the lead-off single from the band's debut album World Wide Open. The song debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart in March 2009.

<i>World Wide Open</i> 2009 studio album by Love and Theft

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<i>Love and Theft</i> (Love and Theft album) 2012 studio album by Love and Theft

Love and Theft is the second studio album by Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles in the American country music duo Love and Theft. It was released on July 24, 2012 via RCA Nashville. The album includes the number 1 single "Angel Eyes." The album's second single, "Runnin' Out of Air," was released to country radio in November 2012. The album's third single, "If You Ever Get Lonely", was released to country radio on June 3, 2013. This song was originally recorded by John Waite on his 2011 album Rough & Tumble.

Angel Eyes (Love and Theft song) 2011 single by Love and Theft

"Angel Eyes" is a song recorded by American country music duo Love and Theft. Eric Gunderson, one-half of the duo, co-wrote it with Jeff Coplan and Eric Paslay. The song was released in November 2011 as the band's first single without group member Brian Bandas, and the first from their self-titled album. It also became their second Top 10 single and first number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Cruise (song) 2012 single by Florida Georgia Line

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If You Ever Get Lonely 2013 single by Love and Theft

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<i>5:01</i> 2014 studio album by Tim Hicks

5:01 is the second studio album by Canadian country music artist Tim Hicks. It was released on August 5, 2014 via RGK Entertainment Group/Open Road Recordings. The album features appearances by Blackjack Billy, Clayton Bellamy and Madeline Merlo.

Love You Like That 2014 single by Canaan Smith

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References

  1. ↑ Wood, Cindy (February 20, 2013). "Blackjack Billy: Difficult to pigeonhole". The Van Wert Independent. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Roots Three/ole writer/producer Jeff Coplan Developing A Midas Touch". Majorly Indie. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (July 24, 2013). "Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - July 24, 2013: Danielle Bradbery Debuts #2, Hunter Hayes "I Want Crazy" Platinum; Brett Eldredge & Brad Paisley Gold". Roughstock. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  4. ↑ Dukes, Billy (August 1, 2013). "Blackjack Billy, 'The Booze Cruise' – Song Review". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ Emke, Dave (August 1, 2013). "Country duo to bring hits to casino this weekend". The Journal . Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ "NashvilleGab - Are Blackjack Billy Set to be the Rolling Stones of Country Music? [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]". 21 April 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-04-27.
  7. ↑ Jessen, Wade (August 16, 2012). "Country Countdown: Love and Theft, Colt Ford Score No. 1s". Billboard.com. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Roots Three/ole Writer Jeff Coplan Back In the Band With Blackjack Billy". Majorly Indie.
  9. ↑ "Billboard Country Update for July 18, 2013" (PDF). Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. July 18, 2013. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Blackjack Billy Album & Song Chart History - Canada Country". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved December 1, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Blackjack Billy - The Booze Cruise - Music Charts". acharts.us. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Canadian digital download certifications – Blackjack Billy – The Booze Cruise". Music Canada.
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