Emerson Drive’s astounding career, spanning over 20 years lands them at a place that few musical groups reach. Since bursting onto the scene in North America in 2001 when they released their debut single via DreamWorks Records Nashville, the band's first two singles – “I Should Be Sleeping” and "Fall Into Me" - both peaked in the Top 5 on the Billboard Country chart and quickly became fan favorites. The sextet crisscrossed North America for the next four years, playing over 300 shows a year and racking up Billboard Music Award & Academy of Country Music Association Award wins for Top New Country Artist & Top New Group, respectively.

 

But, it was the career-changing song "Moments" that gave the band their first Billboard #1 single in the US in June 2007. The group, which at the time, was comprised of members Brad Mates, Danick Dupelle, Mike Melancon, David Pichette, Dale Wallace & Patrick Bourque, was flying high on success when Bourque decided to step back from the group and leave the road. In September of 2007, Patrick Bourque passed away from suicide, and “Moments” took on a whole new meaning for band.

 

“It’s still the song that connects with fans the most. The amount of letters, social media messages and stories we have heard over the years around ‘Moments’ and how it has saved people’s lives or made a difference in their lives still is crazy to us”, says Dupelle. “That’s why we all do music. It’s to connect with the listeners and leave a mark.”

 

 In 2011, ED released their first greatest hits package featuring ten of their hit singles – Decade of Drive – and have since gone on to achieve 12 more Top 10 singles in Canada, bringing their total to an astounding 22 Top 10 hits (so far).  In 2013, they achieved their first gold single in Canada with “She’s My Kind of Crazy” that is still a fan favorite nearly eight years later. Pichette also stepped back from the band in 2013 to spend more time with his family, making ED  a quartet with Mates, Dupelle, Melancon and Wallace still active members.

 

Over the last five years, while they spend less time on the road, Emerson Drive remains a consistent force on the country music landscape.

 

Mates says, “We are at a place where we know what we want and have a balance between our personal lives and our life on the road. We get the best of both worlds. I don’t think you can ever expect in this industry that you get to have a two decade plus career. It says so much about our fans, radio’s support and the ambition we still have to keep going as a group.”

 

As it was for many, 2020 was a year of transition and evaluating what 2021 would look like as Emerson Drive goes into their 20th anniversary since the release of “I Should Be Sleeping”. 2021 promises new music and shows as soon as it’s safe to do so. 2020 saw the guys also hit milestones to be celebrated including their second gold record in Canada for “Just Got Paid” and “She’s My Kind of Crazy” was officially certified platinum.

 

With over 60 million global streams, 40 billion radio impressions, 22 Top 10 singles, over 4500 shows played, millions of miles traveled, and countless awards/nominations from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association, CMT, Dove Awards, GRAMMY Awards, JUNO Awards, Billboard and the Canadian Country Music Association, Emerson Drive has a lot to celebrate as they wrap up a touring career that few artists can only dream of. The band will embark on their final year of touring in 2024 - appropriately titled "One for the Road".