The journey from street performances to stadium concerts is long. The Band Perry began its odyssey in lower Alabama. The three siblings, Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry, spent their formative years in Mobile listening to everything from The Stones to Loretta Lynn. On the trio’s official website, lead singer Kimberly reminisces, “I remember sitting out on our front porch singing old Hank Williams and Bobbie Gentry songs in three-part harmony, hoping to channel the spirits of old country through musical séance, while fighting off the southern Alabama mosquitoes.”
Jump ahead years later, and The Band Perry has performed on “The Today Show, ” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the “Grand Ole Opry.” Their double platinum hit single “If I Die Young” sold more than 2 million copies and reached No. 1 on country music radio charts. The trio was nominated for a Grammy in 2010. In 2011, they garnered five Academy of Country Music Award nominations and won two — Top New Vocal Group and Top New Artist. In June, they won CMT Awards’ Breakthrough Video of the Year.
Kimberly, the eldest, says the pace of success has been the biggest surprise. “Bob Doyle, Garth Brooks’ manager, found us in 2008, after we’d been playing for years in every venue that would have us. In August 2009, we signed with Republic Nashville and things have just sped up from there … really sped up.”
Traveling has become a way of life. In 2010, the siblings spent only 19 days at home in Tennessee. They are currently on tour with Tim McGraw.
Evolving from playing for area churches to opening for Tim McGraw certainly changes perspective, but Reid (bass and vocals) says the band still enjoys performing its own shows in smaller venues, which don’t approach the same level of grandeur. But, the group’s string of successes continues to grow.
What does the future hold for them? Neil, 20, and the youngest Perry, says they do not take success for granted. “We can always get better — improve on what we’re doing.”
“And there’s so much more that we can learn, ” Kimberly says. As they continue to grow, there’s no doubt that we will be hearing more from The Band Perry on airwaves, like “You Lie” featured below.
Catt Sirten
