Whitey Morgan and the 78's are an American

honky tonk A honky-tonk (also called honkatonk, honkey-tonk, or tonk) is both a bar that provides country music for the entertainment of its patrons and the style of music played in such establishments. It can also refer to the type of piano ( tack piano) ...

country band based in

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...

. In 2010, they signed a recording contract with Chicago-based

Bloodshot Records Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, which specializes in alternative country. History Bloodshot Records was founded in 1994 by Nan Warshaw, Rob Miller, and Eric Babcock, who knew each other from jobs ...

Formation and early history

Started in 2005, under the name Whitey Morgan and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys, the original members included Whitey Morgan (a.k.a. Eric Allen) on vocals and guitar; Jeremy Mackinder on bass; and Dylan Dunbar and Jack Schneider on guitar and drums respectively. After establishing themselves in the Midwest Honky Tonk scene, the band recorded a self-produced EP which includes early versions of "Goodbye Dixie," "Prove It All To You," and "If It Ain't Broke." The band soon signed a deal with Detroit's own Small Stone Recordings and went back into the studio to record a cover version of

Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...

's "Runnin' with the Devil" for the label's compilation album, ''

Sucking the 70's ''Sucking the 70's'' is a two disc collection of 1970s songs covered by modern stoner rock bands. It was released by Small Stone Records in 2002. A second album, ''Sucking the 70's – Back in the Saddle Again'', was released in 2006. The album ...

''.

''Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels''

In 2007, the band changed its line-up to Whitey Morgan on Vocals and Guitar, Benny James Vermeylen on Guitar and vocals – formerly of 3 Speed and South Normal, Jeremy "Leroy" Biltz on Guitar, Jeremy Mackinder on bass, and Mike Popovich – formerly of The Holy Cows, 3 Speed, and The OffRamps, on drums and officially becomes Whitey Morgan and the 78's. In 2008 the band released its debut album '' Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels'' on Small Stone Recordings.

''Whitey Morgan and the 78's''

In 2009, the band saw the addition of Tamineh Gueramy on fiddle. The band then headed to

Woodstock, New York Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States, in the northern part of the county, northwest of Kingston, NY. It lies within the borders of the Catskill Park. The population was 5,884 at the 2010 census, down from 6,241 in 2000 ...

in the fall of 2009 to begin recording the follow-up to ''Honky Tonks...'' at the Levon Helm Studios. With almost 200 shows a year and the new album nearing completion the band drew the attention of Chicago's Bloodshot Records and signed a new record contract. The self-titled album was released on October 12, 2010. Ahead of the record's release, both Benny James and Mike Popovich left the band, replaced by Travis Harrett on the drums and Brett Robinson joined on pedal steel guitar. In April 2012, Jeremy Mackinder was replaced by Joey Spina on guitar. The album ''Grandpa's Guitar'' was released in December 2014. It features three cover tunes:

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...

's "Highway Patrolman," "Today I Started Loving You Again" by

Merle Haggard Merle Ronald Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016) was an American country music singer, songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler. Haggard was born in Oildale, California, toward the end of the Great Depression. His childhood was troubled af ...

and Bonnie Owens, and " Dead Flowers" by

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

Current line-up

As of August 2018, the line-up features Whitey Morgan on guitar/vocals, Johnny Up on pedal steel guitar, Joey Spina on guitar, Alex Lyon on Bass, Tony Martinez on acoustic guitar and Eric Savage on drums.

National recognition

After touring with fellow

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

area band The Deadstring Brothers and

Wayne "the Train" Hancock Thomas Wayne Hancock III (born May 1, 1965, in Dallas, Texas) better known as Wayne "The Train" Hancock, is an American singer-songwriter. Hancock is known as "The King of Juke Joint Swing," because his sound is unique, as he incorporates jazz, ...

, both Bloodshot Records recording artists, Whitey Morgan and the 78's were signed to Bloodshot in 2010. On October 16, 2010, the band performed on

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

Mountain Stage ''Mountain Stage'' is a two-hour music radio show, first aired in 1983, produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed worldwide by National Public Radio (NPR). Hosted by Larry Groce from the show's inception until 2021 and current ...

. They played a four-song, fifteen-minute set. The episode also featured Scott Miller,

Gene Watson Gary Gene Watson (born October 11, 1943) is an American country music singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1981 No. 1 hit " Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature 1979 song "Farewell Party." Watson's lo ...

and

The Steel Drivers The SteelDrivers are a bluegrass band from Nashville, Tennessee. Members include fiddler Tammy Rogers, bassist Mike Fleming, guitarist/vocalist Matt Dame, mandolinist Brent Truitt, and banjoist Richard Bailey. Past members include Kelvin Damrell ...

Discography

Music videos

Awards

* 2009: 3

Detroit Music Awards The Detroit Music Awards Foundation is a Michigan 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to recognize Detroit area musicians working on a national, regional, and local level. The Foundation supports and nurtures the musical community in Detro ...

: Best Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Songwriter, Best Country Album (following the release of their first studio album)Whitey Morgan and the 78's win 3 Detroit Music Awards
Detroitmusicawards.com; accessed July 1, 2015. * 2010: Best Country Recording (following the release of ''Whitey Morgan and the 78's'') * 2014: Winner of The Ameripolitan Music Awards Outlaw Country Band of the Year

References

External links

Whitey Morgan and the 78's
{{Authority control American country music groups Musical groups from Michigan Bloodshot Records artists Country musicians from Michigan 2005 establishments in Michigan