Chris Stapleton released his debut album Traveller in May of 2015. Later that year, he rose to fame after singing “Tennessee Whiskey” with Justin Timberlake at the CMA Awards. While never released as an official single, the song went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving him his first chart-topper. However, Stapleton didn’t come out of nowhere. He had been in Nashville for years before finding solo success.
Stapleton moved to Nashville in 2001 and signed a publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music shortly thereafter. He worked as a songwriter for a little more than five years before joining a bluegrass band called the SteelDrivers and forming a Southern Rock band called The Jompson Brothers.
[RELATED: The Top 5 Moments That Shaped Chris Stapleton’s Career]
Chris Stapleton Joins the SteelDrivers
Chris Stapleton joined the SteelDrivers in 2007. The band released their self-titled debut album the next year. They received a Grammy Nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for the song “Blue Side of the Mountain. They released their sophomore album Reckless in 2010. The release brought them Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Where Rainbows Never Die.”
Stapleton left the SteelDrivers after recording Reckless but before it dropped.
“Blue Side of the Mountain”
“Blue Side of the Mountain” opens the SteelDrivers’ debut album and sets the tone for the rest of the collection. Maybe more importantly, it perfectly showcases Chris Stapleton’s vocals. Co-written by Stapleton and Mike Henderson, the song brought Stapleton his first Grammy nod.
“Where Rainbows Never Die”
Another co-write from Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson, “Where Rainbows Never Die” is a slower moment on the band’s sophomore album. Along with being one of the highlights of the album, it shows Stapleton’s range as a vocalist. While he’s famous for his big belting vocals, he’s just as good in these subdued moments.
Chris Stapleton with The Jompson Brothers
Chris Stapleton formed The Jompson Brothers alongside Greg McKee (lead guitar), J.T. Cure (bass), and Bard McNamee (drums) in 2007. However, the band didn’t do much until after Stapleton left the SteelDrivers in 2010. That year, they began to tour the Southeast, opened for Zac Brown Band on multiple occasions, and released their sole album, an independently released self-titled nine-track collection.
[RELATED: Zac Brown Band Pick Jompson Brothers For Sailing Southern Ground Cruise]
At this point, the band seems to have dissolved. However, they may just be on hiatus until Stapleton has time to get back around to rocking with his brothers in music.
“On the Run”
“On the Run” is the most popular song on The Jompson Brothers’ sole album, by the numbers. It currently sits at more than 13 million streams on Spotify. It also stands out as the only song not penned by the band as a unit. Instead, Chris Stapleton co-wrote it with Lee Miller and brought it to the band.
“Blood in the Water”
“Blood in the Water” is the final track on the album and checks all of the boxes of a great rock tune. It has big riffs, thundering drums, and Stapleton’s vocal range on full display.
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