River Road (band)

River Road is an American country music band composed of Tony Ardoin (guitar, vocals), Mike Burch (drums, vocals), Richard Comeaux (steel guitar), Steve Grisaffe (lead vocals, bass guitar), and Charles Ventre (keyboards, vocals).[1] Founded in 1989, the band signed to Capitol Records Nashville in 1997, releasing their self-titled debut album that year and charting three singles on the Billboard country charts, including the top 40 hit "Nickajack". By 1998, River Road had transferred to Virgin Records Nashville, charting a fourth single and recording an unreleased album (Somethin' in the Water). Ventre and Grisaffe each began solo careers in the 2000s, but they reunited with Ardoin and Burch in 2011 to release a new extended play.

River Road
OriginLouisiana, United States
GenresCountry
Years active1989–present
LabelsCapitol
Virgin
Star
Associated actsJeffrey Steele
MembersTony Ardoin
Mike Burch
Steve Grisaffe
Charles Ventre
Past membersEddie Bodin
Richard Comeaux

History

River Road was formed in 1989 in the state of Louisiana by lead singer and bass guitarist Steve Grisaffe, who had previously played in other bands in Louisiana. Completing the original roster were drummer Eddie Bodin[2] (later replaced by Mike Burch), guitarist/vocalist Tony Ardoin, steel guitarist Richard Comeaux, and keyboardist Charles Ventre. In 1991, the band placed second in a National Marlboro Country Music Contest, in addition to touring throughout their native Louisiana. Eventually, they were signed to Capitol Nashville[3] after considering deals with Almo Sounds and Rising Tide Records.[4]

River Road's first album, also titled River Road, was released in 1997. Overall, this album produced three chart singles on the Hot Country Songs charts: "I Broke It, I'll Fix It", "Nickajack" (which entered Top 40), and "Somebody Will". The album was co-produced by Scott Hendricks and Gary Nicholson. Billboard gave "Nickajack" a positive review, saying that it was "crisp and radio-friendly" and "could be the single that helps set this new quintet apart."[5]

When Virgin Records opened its Nashville, Tennessee, division in 1998, River Road was transferred to Virgin Nashville, becoming one of the first three acts signed to that division (the other two being singer Julie Reeves and prank caller Roy D. Mercer).[6] While on Virgin, the band began work on its second studio album (2000's Something in the Water), with its lead-off single "Breathless" charting as well. Virgin Nashville was dissolved by the end of the year, and Somethin' in the Water was never released,[3] although the title track would become a Top 40 hit for its writer, Jeffrey Steele, when he recorded it a year later.

By the end of the year, River Road had disbanded, with both Ventre and Grisaffe pursuing solo careers. Grisaffe released an album titled Current Status in 2001 on an independent label. Ardoin, Burch, Grisaffe, and Ventre reunited in 2011 to release an extended play on the Star Records label.[7]

River Road (1997)
River Road
Studio album by
River Road
ReleasedJune 13, 1997 (1997-06-13)
GenreCountry
Length33:13
LabelCapitol Nashville
ProducerScott Hendricks
Gary Nicholson

Track listing
  1. "Wishful Thinking" (Mike Henderson, Wally Wilson) – 3:15
  2. "Somebody Will" (Walt Aldridge, Brad Crisler, Steven Dale Jones) – 2:40
  3. "She Gets to Me" (J. Fred Knobloch, Billy Kirsch) – 3:32
  4. "Nickajack" (Steve Bogard, Matt Maher, Steve Curnutte) – 2:51
  5. "I Broke It, I'll Fix It" (Buzz Cason, Byron Hill) – 3:30
  6. "Only Young Once" (Larry Boone, Paul Nelson) – 2:51
  7. "Listen to Her Tears" (Terry Burns, Susan Longacre, Stephony Smith) – 4:12
  8. "Tears to the Tide" (Sarah Beth Hooker, Gary Burr, Gary Nicholson) – 3:51
  9. "A Day in the Life" (Nicholson, Craig Wiseman) – 2:55
  10. "As If You Didn't Know" (Donnie Fritts, Nicholson) – 3:36

Personnel

As listed in liner notes.[8]

River Road

Additional musicians

Singles
Year Single Peak chart
positions		 Album
US Country CAN Country
1997 "I Broke It, I'll Fix It" 48 95 River Road
"Nickajack" 37 27
1998 "Somebody Will" 51 84
2000 "Breathless" 45 — Somethin' in the Water (unreleased)
2001 "'Til Now" — —
2011 "Good Things" — — River Road EP
"Something I Can Wrap My Arms Around" — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos
Year Video Director
1997 "I Broke It, I'll Fix It"[9] Martin Kahan
"Nickajack"[10] Michael Merriman
2000 "Breathless" Eric Welch

References
  1. "River Road". Charles Ventre official website. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  2. "Band Directory from A to Z". The Advocate. 1993-09-03. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
  3. "Steve Grisaffe: Current status". CDBaby.com. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  4. Grisaffe, S. (2006). Behind Nashville: A True Story. AuthorHouse. p. 71. ISBN 9781463482978. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  5. "Single reviews". Billboard: 62. August 16, 1997.
  6. "Virgin Announces First Artists". CMT.com. 1998-10-09. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
  7. "River Road EP". CDBaby.com. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
  8. River Road (CD). River Road. Capitol Records Nashville. 1997. 53052.CS1 maint: others (link)
  9. "CMT : Videos : River Road : I Broke It, I'll Fix It". Country Music Television. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  10. "CMT : Videos : River Road : Nickajack". Country Music Television. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
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