The Wilkinsonswere a Canadiancountry musictrio fromBelleville, Ontario.Founded in 1997, the group consisted of lead singerAmanda Wilkinson,her brother Tyler Wilkinson, and their father, Steve Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons achieved success late in 1998 with the hit single "26 Cents",a Number One on the Canadian country music charts and Top 5 hit on the U.S.BillboardHot Country Singles & Tracks (nowHot Country Songs) charts. It was followed by "Fly (The Angel Song)",also a No. 1 in Canada. A second album,Here and Now,produced the group's last American top 40 hit in "Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend". Afterward, the trio recorded three more albums, one of which was not released, and a Greatest Hits package.
The Wilkinsons | |
|---|---|
 The Wilkinsons in 2013. Left to right: Amanda, Tyler and Steve Wilkinson. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Trenton,Ontario,Canada |
| Genres | Country |
| Years active | 1997–2009 |
| Labels | Giant Warner Bros. Nashville BNA Open Road Fontana North Angeline |
| Spinoffs | Motion Picture Ending Small Town Pistols |
| Past members | Amanda Wilkinson Steve Wilkinson Tyler Wilkinson |
| Website | www.wilkinsonsonline.net |
As of 2023, Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson will still perform together occasionally as "The Wilkinsons" without their father, who has retired.
History
editBeginnings
editSteve Wilkinson was born on August 18, 1955, inBelleville, Ontario,Canada.[1]Before the country trio was formed, he was struggling financially after he lost his job at a nuclear power plant due to downsizing. He took menial jobs in order to provide for his family, but his real passion was music. They signed toGiant Recordsin 1998.
Breakthrough
editThe Wilkinsons' first album,Nothing But Love,reached No. 16 on theBillboardTop Country Albums charts in 1998. The trio was nominated for theCountry Music Association's Horizon Award and Vocal Group of the Year and for Single of the Year by theAcademy of Country Music Awards.Their second album,Here and Now,won theCanadian Country Music Associationaward for Best Album. The band has received nine Canadian Country Music Awards, oneJuno Awardand twoGrammynominations (both for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group).[2][3]
Move to BNA Records
editIn 2001, Giant closed its Nashville division while "I Wanna Be That Girl" was climbing, leading to the band's third Giant album (Shine) being shelved.[4]Shortly thereafter, the trio was signed toBNA Records.Weeks before the release of their first single for BNA, the label's president wanted Amanda to record a solo album, which would ultimately disband the trio. The trio eventually left the label and signed with the independent Canadian labelOpen Road Recordsfor their 2005 album,Highway.
The group's last studio album, "Home", was released on March 20, 2007.
Solo work
editAmanda Wilkinson signed withUniversal South Recordsand released her solo debut album,Amanda Wilkinson.Amanda received four nominations at the 2006Canadian Country Music Awards(Single of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year).
Tyler started thealternative rockband Motion Picture Ending. The band was composed ofdrummerand long-time friend Justin Devries,bassistCurtis Weekes,guitaristGreg Bolton, with Tyler as lead vocalist and guitarist.[5]
Greatest Hits… and Then Some
editIn 2007, The Wilkinsons won Independent Group of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
Greatest Hits… and Then Some,agreatest hitsalbum, was released on October 7, 2008. The first single, "When I'm Old", was released in mid 2008.
Small Town Pistols
editIn the late 2000s, the Wilkinsons disbanded. Amanda and Tyler founded a new duo calledSmall Town Pistolsin 2012.[6]
Reality television
editThe Wilkinsons were also the subject of a fictionalized"reality" television programon theCMT Canadanetwork,The Wilkinsons.The show follows the family as they move back toThe Quinte Area,Ontario,fromNashville, Tennessee.In 2006, the show was nominated for Country Music Program or Special of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards.
Discography
edit- Nothing but Love(1998)
- Here and Now(2000)
- Highway(2005)
- Home(2007)
References
edit- ^"The Wilkinsons | An Original Family. An Original Series".July 8, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-07-08.
- ^[1]ArchivedMay 21, 2006, at theWayback Machine
- ^"The Wilkinsons | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio".AllMusic.Retrieved2015-11-08.
- ^"The Wilkinsons carry on after collapse of record company - Post-Tribune (IN) | HighBeam Research".March 9, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-09.
- ^"About Motion Picture Ending".Sonicbids.com. 2010-07-19.Retrieved2015-11-08.
- ^[2]ArchivedJune 28, 2012, at theWayback Machine