Brothers Osborne

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For the Kentucky bluegrass group of the 1960s and 1970s, see Osborne Brothers.
Brothers Osborne
Brothers Osborne at a concert in 2018.
John Osborne (left) and T.J. Osborne (right) at DTE Energy Music Theatre, June 2018
Background information
OriginDeale, Maryland, U.S.[1]
GenresCountry[2]
Years active2012–present
LabelsEMI Nashville
Associated actsLucie Silvas
Members
  • John Osborne
  • T.J. Osborne

Brothers Osborne is an American country music duo consisting of brothers T.J. Osborne (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and John Osborne (lead guitar, background vocals). Born in Deale, Maryland, the duo signed a recording contract with EMI Records Nashville in 2012 and began releasing music the following year. Among their first successes was the 2014 single "Rum," which received critical acclaim. It was followed by "Stay a Little Longer," which became a top five hit. Their success led to the release of their debut studio album titled Pawn Shop (2015). Since then, Brothers Osborne have released the albums Port Saint Joe (2018) and Skeletons (2020).

The duo have since had further hits with "Shoot Me Straight" (2018) and as featured artists on Dierks Bentley's "Burning Man" (2019). Along with their own songwriting, their musical success is credited to producer Jay Joyce, who had produced all of their music. Artists with whom they have worked include David Nail, Dierks Bentley, Lee Ann Womack, and Lucie Silvas (the latter of which is John's wife). Their musical style takes influence from Southern rock, outlaw country, and neotraditional country, with particular emphasis on the styles of T.J.'s lead vocals and John's guitar playing.

History and formation[]

Brothers John Osborne (born 1982) and T.J. Osborne (born 1984) were two of five children raised in Deale, Maryland, a rural fishing community located along the Chesapeake Bay.[3][4] Their parents both wrote and played music regularly. Their uncles and cousins partook in similar hobbies. The family often gathered together to perform music, which inspired the brothers' earliest musical aspirations. "Naturally, John and I wanted to participate and play with the family because it was fun. And that was where we cut our teeth," said T.J. Osborne in 2014.[5] The brothers then started performing regularly with their father, John Osborne Sr. Together, they played in a band named Deuces and a Quarter, while also helping their father with his day job as a plumber.[6] When not performing to a crowd, the brothers practiced music in their family's backyard shed.[2]

The duo continued performing more consistently through high school. They later represented their high school in the Anne Arundel County "Battle of the Bands" in 2000.[7] Upon graduation, John attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. T.J. soon followed his brother to the city after finishing high school.[6] They first attempted to have separate careers. John began playing gigs as a sideman, while T.J. played upright bass and composed material for other artists. T.J. also made several demonstration records. Yet his own voice was considered "not generic enough" for many industry professionals. It was after this that the brothers started working together.[8] For several years, the duo performed in clubs, bars and other small music venues.[6] In 2011, they signed a publishing contract with Warner-Chappell.[2] In 2012, the siblings secured a recording contract with EMI Nashville, a subdivision of Capitol Records and Nashville's Universal Music Group.[9]

Career[]

2013–2016: Career rise and Pawn Shop[]

In 2013, Brothers Osborne released their debut single titled "Let's Go There." The uptempo song became a minor hit, reaching the top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Its limited radio success enforced their record label's decision to not release an album.[9] The song was followed in 2014 by the single "Rum."[2] It reached a similar Billboard chart position, which continued to halt an official album release from EMI. Instead, the label released a self-titled extended play later that year.[9] The EP reached the top 25 of the Billboard Top Country Albums list and contained five tracks (including their 2014 single).[10][11] Following its release, several music journalists named the pair on new artists lists, such as "Best of What's Next" or "Ones to Watch."[9] Hannah Smith of Vinyl magazine praised the project and anticipated future success for the pair: "Brothers Osborne is a duo who are redefining the lines and following in the footsteps of trailblazers who have launched a revolution with their distinct music."[12]

Their third single "Stay a Little Longer" was issued in 2015. The song was originally included on their 2014 EP, but was re-recorded for the single release.[2][13] "Stay a Little Longer" became the duo's first major hit, reaching the top five of the Billboard country chart.[2] Its success led to the release of their first full-length album titled Pawn Shop (2016).[2] The album contained material mostly penned by John and T.J. Osborne. It also featured vocal collaborations with Lee Ann Womack.[14] Pawn Shop peaked at number three on the Billboard country albums chart and number 17 on the Billboard 200.[15][16] Pawn Shop received four stars from Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine who called it "busy, but never overstuffed."[17] Andrew Unterberger of Spin commented that the album was "setting the bar for the genre in 2016."[18] Two additional singles were spawned following the record's release that later became hits: "21 Summer" and "It Ain't My Fault."[2] The recent commercial success led the brothers to win five industry awards. Both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association named them as Vocal Duo of the Year in both 2016 and 2017, with the latter association also awarding New Vocal Duo in 2016.[3]

2018–present: Port Saint Joe and Skeletons[]

In early 2018, the brothers announced the release of their second studio record titled Port Saint Joe. The album was named for the town of the same name, which was also where the duo recorded it.[19] Its lead single was the song "Shoot Me Straight," which featured a seven-minute guitar solo.[20] It later reached the top 30 of the Billboard country songs chart.[21] Port Saint Joe was officially released in April 2018 via EMI Nashville. Like its predecessor, Port Saint Joe was produced by Jay Joyce.[2] It peaked at number two on the Billboard country albums list and number 15 on the Billboard 200.[22][23] Joseph Hudak of Rolling Stone described the record as "a concise, 10-song effort."[24] Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it a "clever, smart, adventurous, and hooky, creating a slow-rolling good-time vibe that doesn't lose its luster with repeated plays."[25]

Between 2018 and 2019, the brothers were part of several collaborative projects. In mid-2018, they were featured on Dierks Bentley's "Burning Man", a single from his studio album The Mountain.[26] The song became their biggest hit since "Stay a Little Longer," climbing to the top five of the Billboard country songs chart.[27] In 2019, the duo collaborated with Maren Morris on a duet for her studio album Girl.[28] They also joined Brooks & Dunn on their 2019 album Reboot, where they contributed to a re-recording of that duo's 1993 hit "Hard Workin' Man".[29] The duo were later nominated by the Country Music Association for their recent collaborative projects.[30]

In October 2019, they released a live album recorded during three concerts at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.[31] This was followed in July 2020 by the announcement of a third studio album, titled Skeletons, which later was later released in October 2020. Also produced by Jay Joyce, the album included songs written by the brothers, with several Nashville songwriters.[32] Skeletons debuted in the top five of the country albums chart and the top 50 on the Billboard 200.[33][34] The album has since spawned the charting single, "All Night."[35] Skeletons received a favorable response from Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who rated the project four and half stars. Erlewine praised the duo's mixing of different styles and recognized that the brothers had become "comfortable in the skin." Erlewine concluded by saying, "...the great thing about Skeletons is how it sounds like they're appealing to wide quadrants of rock, pop, country, and Americana audiences without sounding like anything but themselves."[36] Jonathan Bernstein of Rolling Stone rated Skeletons at three and a half stars. Bernstein commented that the record is "a remarkably engaging country-leaning rock record that shows off what the duo does best."[37]

Musical stylings[]

John Osborne is the main instrumentalist of the group, playing primarily electric guitar, while TJ is the lead vocalist. Of their sound, Spin writer Andrew Unterberger said, "John's guitar slides a Hattori Hanzō sharpness, while TJ’s vocals are wisely kept from going too thick with warbling vibrato, allowing them an understated vulnerability badly lacking in Nashville these days."[38] Stephen Thomas Erlewine contrasted the duo with Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton, saying that they have "the modern rhythmic snap of the former and the classicist structure of the latter."[39] Allmusic describes the duo as recording "earthy, passionate country-rock",[2] while Country Standard Time reviewer Jeffrey B. Remz noted influences of outlaw country and Southern rock in Pawn Shop, also comparing TJ's "sonorous, ultra-deep voice" favorably to Trace Adkins and noting the variety of guitar styles played by John as "sometimes steely, sometimes twangy, sometimes rocking".[40]

Personal lives[]

John Osborne is married to British singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas. The two met in 2007 during a songwriting session, and married in 2015.[41] That same year, John played guitar on and co-produced Silvas' studio album Letters to Ghosts.[42]

On February 3, 2021, TJ Osborne came out as gay, making him the first openly gay artist signed to a major country music label.[43][44][45]

Band members[]

Current members

  • T.J. Osborne (born November 18, 1984)[46] – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • John Osborne (born April 27, 1982)[46] – lead guitar, backing vocals

Touring members[47]

  • Adam Box – drums, percussion
  • Jason Graumlich – guitar, mandolin, percussion, backing vocals
  • Billy Justineau - keyboards
  • Pete Sternberg – bass guitar

Discography[]

Main article: Brothers Osborne discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations[]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Brothers Osborne

Brothers Osborne have received five awards from the Academy of Country Music,[48] four awards from the Country Music Association[30] and seven nominations from the Grammy Awards.[49]

References[]

  1. ^ "Bubbling Under: The Colourist Breaks Through At Alternative". Billboard. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Collar, Matt. "Brothers Osborne". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-89820-229-8.
  4. ^ Allers, Hannahlee. "Brothers Osborne Talk Childhood in Maryland". The Boot. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  5. ^ Parton, Chris. "Brothers Osborne's "Rum" Toasts Maryland Rednecks". Country Music Television. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c Case, Wesley. "With higher profile, Maryland natives Brothers Osborne return to Grammys". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  7. ^ Winters, Wendi. "Teens of the Week: John Osborne now a rising country-Western music star". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  8. ^ Glass, Polly. "From prog metal to folk and the Foo Fighters: how Brothers Osborne paid their dues". Louder Sound. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Yahr, Emily. "Meet the Brothers Osborne, the embodiment of country music's evolution". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Brothers Osborne chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Brothers Osborne: Brothers Osborne: Songs, reviews, credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ^ Smith, Hannah. "Brothers Osborne: Brothers Osborne EP". Vinyl. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  13. ^ Hudak, Joseph (30 March 2015). "Brothers Osborne on Country Music: 'People Are Tired of the Bullsh-t'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  14. ^ Pawn Shop (CD booklet). Brothers Osborne. EMI Nashville. 2016. B0022364-02.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Pawn Shop chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Pawn Shop chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  17. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pawn Shop: Brothers Osborne: Songs, reviews, credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  18. ^ Unterberger, Andrew. "Review: Brothers Osborne Take Country to the 'Pawn Shop,' Leave With Something New". Spin. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  19. ^ Stefano, Angela. "Brothers Osborne Announce Sophomore Album, 'Port Saint Joe'". The Boot. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  20. ^ Freeman, Jon. "Brothers Osborne Announce New Album 'Port Saint Joe'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  21. ^ ""Shoot Me Straight" chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Port Saint Joe chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Port Saint Joe chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  24. ^ Hudak, Joseph. "Why Brothers Osborne Are Country Music's New Working-Class Heroes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  25. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Port Saint Joe: Brothers Osborne: Songs, reviews, credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  26. ^ Stecker, Liv (June 25, 2018). "Dierks Bentley's 'Burning Man', Featuring Brothers Osborne, Is His Next Single [Listen]". The Boot. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  27. ^ ""Burning Man" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  28. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "GIRL". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  29. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Reboot". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b "CMA Awards Past Winners & Nominees: Brothers Osborne". Country Music Association. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  31. ^ Hudak, Joseph (August 12, 2019). "Brothers Osborne Ready 'Live at the Ryman' Concert Album". Rolling Stone.
  32. ^ Jon Freeman (July 22, 2020). "Brothers Osborne Detail New Album 'Skeletons'". Rolling Stone Country. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  33. ^ "Skeletons chart history (Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Skeletons chart history (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  35. ^ ""All Night" chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  36. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Skeletons: Brothers Osborne: Songs, reviews, credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  37. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan. "Brothers Osborne Deliver Their First Full-Fledged Rock Record with 'Skeletons'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  38. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (January 11, 2016). "Review: Brothers Osborne Take Country to the 'Pawn Shop,' Leave With Something New". Spin. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  39. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Pawn Shop". Allmusic. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  40. ^ Remz, Jeffrey B. "Pawn Shop review". Country Standard Time. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  41. ^ Annie Zaleski (June 1, 2020). "John Osborne + Lucie Silvas — Country's Greatest Love Stories". The Boot. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  42. ^ "Letters to Ghosts credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  43. ^ Dowling, Marcus (3 February 2021). "Brothers Osborne's TJ Osborne Is the Only Openly Gay Artist Signed to a Major Country Label". Country Music Television. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Brothers Osborne's T.J. Osborne Gets Love From Dan + Shay, Kacey Musgraves & More After Coming Out". Billboard.
  45. ^ Damshenas, Sam (February 4, 2021). "Country singer T.J. Osborne comes out as gay".
  46. ^ Jump up to: a b "Birthdays". Nash Country Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  47. ^ Stockbridge, Kathy. "Brothers Osborne Rock The "Small But Mighty Crowd" at Kegs Canalside – NYS Music". nysmusic.com.
  48. ^ "Search winners: Brothers Osborne". Academy of Country Music. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  49. ^ "Brothers Osborne: Artist". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

External links[]

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