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Hometown: Nashville, TN
Label: QuarterBack Records / Open Road Recordings
Management: John Ettinger
Website: www.facebook.com
Sounds Like: Bon Jovi, Rascal Flatts, The Charlie Daniels Band, Lady Antebellum
Genre: Country
Emerson Drive's success grew out of a dream that began in Brad's hometown of Grande Prairie, Alberta. A selfless camaraderie has kept them united through the years, and a tireless work ethic continues to make them one of country's busiest bands. Non-stop touring (their old bus recently passed the one-million mile mark) has won them fan loyalty that has been a key to their longevity.
"We have fans that have been with Emerson Drive since the beginning," says David. "They're still very dedicated. During the years when we were going through lean times and we weren't being heard on the radio as much as we would have liked, they were buying tickets and supporting us. People believed in this band and continue to believe in us, and that means everything."
The journey began when Brad, who grew up with his dad's George Strait and Don Williams records, was inspired after an 11th grade talent contest to start a band with some classmates. They began life as 12 Gauge, but soon became Emerson Drive, taking their name from the Emerson Trail, which crosses western Alberta to join the Alaskan Highway.
The members of Emerson Drive moved to Nashville and released a 2002 self-titled album that featured two breakthrough Top 5 hits "I Should Be Sleeping" and "Fall Into Me," as well as follow-up hit "Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You)." The band also received their very first #1 video on CMT with "Fall Into Me." Their second album, What If, gave them four Top 15 Canadian hits and one Top 20 in the U.S. but following a corporate restructuring, they parted ways with DreamWorks Records.
“Rolling through great songs like “That Kind of Beautiful”, “I Love This Road” (they must with the amount of touring they do), and their first number one song “Moments”, they had us singing, tapping our feet, and clapping our way through the evening.”
refrainmusic in Concerts - Emerson Drive & High Valley
“Country music group Emerson Drive did its part for national unity by offering a bilingual version of O Canada. You have to wonder why the NHL didn’t book these guys from Grand Prairie, Alta., for the Heritage Classic in Calgary.”
PAT HICKEY - Montreal Gazette
“Now that the temperature is rising, so are the heartrates of Emerson Drive, as is evident in the band’s latest single, ‘Let Your Love Speak.’”
Amanda Hensel - Emerson Drive, ‘Let Your Love Speak’ – Song Spotlight
“When we talked recently, Brad Mates, singer and last original member of the Canadian-bred country band Emerson Drive, was at his Nashville home, pondering the next two or three months.
The following day, the tour and equipment buses were being dispatched from Tennessee to Canada's West Coast for the start of a 33-city tour, some supporting megastar Toby Keith. They'll go from Victoria and Surrey, B.C., through Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba before detouring to Australia. Then it's back to Canada.”
JOHN P. MCLAUGHLIN - Emerson Drive's long and winding road
"We tried writing something after Patrick passed away, over the course of that first year, and everything that came out wasn't 100-per-cent there. There was always something that was missing. We wanted to make sure that whatever it was, we weren't going to put it on an album or release something as a single if it wasn't all there for the five individuals in the group.
JEFF DEDEKKER - Emerson Drive riding emotional rollercoaster
“Greatest-hits albums -- being landmark achievements -- are usually cause for celebration. Yet for Canuck country-rockers Emerson Drive, the release of Decade of Drive is bittersweet.
The band launched its 30-plus city Canadian tour in Victoria on Tuesday, the same day as the hits package hit stores. The album's new single is "When I See You Again." This heartfelt ballad is a tribute to former bandmate Patrick Bourque, who, in 2007, committed suicide weeks after quitting Emerson Drive.”
ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN - Emerson Drive's latest a bittersweet tribute to former bandmate
“he Decade of Drive album features three new singles, including the fantastic “When I See You Again.” It’s a song that could be paired with Moments” as a cousin of sorts as it discusses the aftermath of losing a treasured friend or family member. Decade of Drive proves that the groups talent is real and that talent has allowed them to survive in a market where bands come and go on a seemingly daily basis.”
Matt Bjorke - Emerson Drive - A Decade of Drive
