• 2016-

  Brandon ColemanVocals2016-

  Andrew BishopBass2016-

  Drew NixGuitar2016-

  Zach RishelGuitar2016-

  John HallDrums2016-
• The Red Clay Strays are a country-rock band from Mobile, Alabama. Their sound blends classic country, rockabilly, gospel-fed soul, and Delta blues influences.
• Raised on Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr. and Waylon Jennings, lead singer Brandon Coleman initially played drums, then guitar amid the tiny congregation at the River of Life Church in Saraland, Alabama.
• The seeds of The Red Clay Strays were sown in the heart of Mobile, Alabama, around 2015. What began as a typical cover band with Brandon Coleman on vocals and guitar, Andrew Bishop on bass, and Drew Nix handling bookings, would soon evolve into something much more.
• After a few lineup changes, including the addition of drummer John Hall and guitarist Zach Rishel, the band solidified its core membership in January 2017. It was at this point that they began to shift their focus from covers to original music.
• Andrew Bishop's brother came up with the name The Red Clay Strays. Initially, the band members didn't particularly like it but they needed a name for the group, and "The Red Clay Strays" was catchy, so they decided to stick with it.
  
  "Our name is Red Clay because we have red clay where we're from," Bishop explained to ABC News.
  
  This distinguishes them from the "red dirt" country subgenre associated with Texas and Oklahoma. Bishop clarified, "We're not really red dirt country per se: We kind of consider ourselves more rock 'n' roll than anything."
• Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences, The Red Clay Strays began to craft their unique sound. While this transition was challenging, with some early gigs drawing sparse crowds, their dedication to live performance and authentic music gradually paid off.
• In 2019, they released their breakout single, "Good God Almighty," which was featured in the movie Doctor Sleep. More original singles followed in 2020.
• The Red Clay Strays' self-released 2022 debut album, Moment of Truth, was crowdfunded to the tune of $50,000 in just a week. The record was the result of an intense eight-day recording session when the band members pulled all-nighters and slept on the studio floor. One of the tracks, "Wondering Why," went viral on TikTok in late 2023, leading to their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
• In 2024 The Red Clay Strays signed with RCA Records and Warner Chappell Music, who released the band's first major label album, Made By These Moments, that July.
• The Red Clay Strays, while not explicitly aiming to create worship music, often incorporate their faith into their songwriting. Coleman has stated that God is a driving force in their music and a significant part of their lives. The Made By These Moments track "God Does" shows the band's ability to blend faith-inspired lyrics with their signature sound.

Comments: 1

• Beau Jack from Meridian MsI’m 78 and love their music

More Songfacts:

We Are The WorldUSA for Africa

The actor Dan Aykroyd sang on "We Are The World." LaToya Jackson did too, so we know they weren't all that picky.

Walking In MemphisMarc Cohn

"Walking In Memphis" isn't so much about Memphis as it is The Hollywood Cafe in Mississippi, where Marc Cohn encountered an older woman named Murial playing piano.

Susie QCreedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival's first single was a cover of a rockabilly song called "Susie Q." When it became a hit, group leader John Fogerty went into a songwriting frenzy so they wouldn't be one-hit wonders, resulting in hits like "Proud Mary" and "Lodi."

Handle With CareThe Traveling Wilburys

"Handle With Care" started as a George Harrison song with guest appearances by Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, but it went so well the five of them decided to form a group - The Traveling Wilburys - and record an entire album.

I'll WaitVan Halen

Michael McDonald co-wrote the Van Halen song "I'll Wait."

(I've Had) The Time of My LifeBill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" was a huge hit from the movie Dirty Dancing. It was used in the climactic dance scene at the end, which was actually the first scene shot for the movie.

Editor's Picks

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.