Eli Young Band | |
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Mike Eli
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Background information | |
Origin | Denton, Texas |
Genres | Country, country rock |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels | Carnival, Universal South, Republic Nashville, Valory |
Associated acts | Frank Liddell, Will Hoge, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, The Cadillac Three |
Website | www |
Members | Mike Eli James Young Jon Jones Chris Thompson |
Eli Young Band is an American country music band composed of members who met while students at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas: Mike Eli (vocals, guitar), James Young (guitar), Jon Jones (bass guitar), and Chris Thompson (drums). They released their self-titled debut album in 2002, followed by the Carnival records release Level in 2005. Their third album, Jet Black & Jealous, was released in 2008 by Universal South Records. A second major-label album, Life at Best, was released in 2011 by Republic Nashville, with 10,000 Towns following in early 2014. The band has charted eight times on the Billboard country charts, with three of their singles having reached number 1: "Crazy Girl", which was the top country song of 2011 according to Billboard Year-End, along with "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" and "Drunk Last Night".
Mike Eli and James Young met at the University of North Texas where they became dorm roommates their freshman year. They played guitar and eventually began writing and singing songs together; they formed the acoustic duo, Eli & Young, while attending the University of North Texas. Chris Thompson and Jon Jones joined them later on and they became the Eli Young Band.
They released their first album in 2002, the self-titled Eli Young Band. In 2005, they released Level on Carnival Records and opened shows for Miranda Lambert. National exposure on CMT and GAC helped them begin to build a following well outside of their touring base. They sold as many as 2,000 tickets a night in multiple markets. In late 2006 they released the live album Eli Young Band Live At the Jolly Fox. Early in 2007, they signed a management deal with George Couri. Their plans included a rigorous tour schedule and key opening spots with Pat Green, Robert Earl Keen, and Jack Ingram.