Simplified is a North American rock, island vibe, and reggae rock band based in

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...

History

Chris Sheridan and Clee Laster met at local pub while Sheridan was bartending and Laster was performing as a solo artist at the

Uptown venue formerly known as The Graduate. The two formed an acoustic duo and began performing concerts known as Simplified in and around the city in 2002. In 2004, Sheridan and Clee auditioned band members, adding a bassist and drummer creating a quartet. Simplified began touring regionally in the Southeast United States in 2005. The band toured the United States nationally and performing shows internationally in North and occasionally in Central America. According to PANDORA Radio statistics, Simplified is rated one of the highest-level independent artists in the world with the 2006 song from the ''Smile'' album "Wake 'n Bake". With the release of Elephant Sky in 2008, Simplified went to more of a pop style. Between 2010 and 2013, Sheridan and Laster reinvented Simplified, bringing back the island rock sound they are known for, and also hired a variety of musicians to accompany them on the road and in the studio. Their song "Gettin' Home" was featured on the soundtrack of NASCAR The Game: Inside Line, and five years later with new developers, NASCAR Heat 2. In summer 2014, the band released their fourth studio album ''#WAKENBAKENATION'' which includes a recut studio version of the single "Wake N Bake" featuring an added horn section and a new gospel-style intro. In 2019,their 2011 song "Long Time Ago" was featured in NASCAR Heat 4.

Members

Founding members * Clee Laster (

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...

; 2002–present) * Chris Sheridan (

lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are use ...

; 2002–present)

Charitable endeavors and other appearances

Simplified is an ambassador to Michael Franti's Do It For the Love Foundation.

Discography

;Studio albums * ''ACT 1'' (2005) * ''Smile'' (2006) * ''Elephant Sky'' (2008) * ''Brighter Days'' (2011) * ''#WakeNBakeNation'' (2014)

References

Sources

* Wildsmith, Steve, "Simplified puts name to work for its rock 'n' roll

''The Daily Times'', March 30, 2011, accessed April 25, 2011. * Devores, Courtney,
Local Flavor: A Hometown Act Worth Watching
, ''The Charlotte Observer'', April 15, 2011, accessed April 25, 2011. * Hahne, Jeff "CD Review: Simplified's Brighter Days

"Creative Loafing", April 12, 2011, accessed April 25, 2011. * Augustine, Dianna "Interview: Simplified

''Shutter 16 Magazine'', September 11, 2009, accessed April 25, 2011. * Wake, Matt "Clee Speaks

"Metromix", November 25, 2008, accessed April 25, 2011. * Hahne, Jeff,
Keeping it Simplified
, ''Creative Loafing'', November 4, 2008, accessed April 25, 2011. * Schlehuber, Ryan,

, '' The St. Ignace News'', August 24, 2006, accessed April 25, 2011.

External links

* {{Authority control Rock music groups from North Carolina 2002 establishments in North Carolina Musical groups established in 2002 Musicians from Charlotte, North Carolina American reggae musical groups