The Lost Trailers is an Academy of Country Music award-nominated American country music band. Established in 2000, the band comprises Ryder Lee (lead vocals), Manny Medina (bass guitar), Andrew Nielson (keyboards), Stokes Nielson (vocals, lead guitar), and Jeff Potter (drums). Originally known as Stokes Nielson and The Lost Trailers, the band made its debut at a Fourth of July picnic held by country singer Willie Nelson. That year, The Lost Trailers self-released its debut album Story of the New Age Cowboy , followed in 2002 by Trailer Trash , followed by 2004's Welcome to the Woods on Universal/Republic. After switching to BNA Records in 2006, the band issued a self-titled effort, which produced the singles "Call Me Crazy" and "Why Me", both of which entered the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. A fifth album, Holler Back , was released in August 2008, producing a Top Ten country hit in its title track and a Top 20 in "How 'Bout You Don't".

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History

Stokes Nielson and Ryder Lee began writing and producing music together while both were attending Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. ^[1] Their first album together was the self-issued The Story of the New Age Cowboy in 2000. ^[2] Initially, Ryder and Stokes worked with a bass guitarist and a drummer, forming a group known as Stokes Nielson & The Lost Trailers (later shortened to The Lost Trailers). The name was derived from the fact that the band's equipment trailers had been stolen on three separate occasions. ^[3]

At the time, Stokes Nielson was also working as a disc jockey for a radio station in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2000, after an on-air interview with Willie Nelson, Stokes offered him a demo version of The Lost Trailers' material. Nelson then offered the band an opportunity to play at a Fourth of July picnic, which he held annually in Texas. Stokes assumed the role of songwriter and guitarist, with Lee serving as vocalist. Eventually, the band's membership was later finalized with Stokes' younger brother, Andrew, on keyboards, Jeff Potter on drums, and Manny Medina on bass guitar. The band then gained a following throughout the Southeast and Texas, performing more than 200 shows yearly.

First albums

In 2002, The Lost Trailers recorded their second album, entitled Trailer Trash . A third album, Welcome to the Woods , followed two years later on Universal/Republic Records, although its only single failed to chart. Record producer Blake Chancey, who has worked with the Dixie Chicks and Waylon Jennings, saw the band perform at a concert in Fort Worth, Texas, and offered to work with them. Renee Bell, a talent executive for BNA Records, had also seen The Lost Trailers perform at another concert. She then recommended the band to the label's president, and The Lost Trailers were signed to a recording contract with BNA in 2006. Their first chart single, "Chicken Fried", was released in early 2006, peaking at #53 on the Hot Country Songs charts. This single was withdrawn because Zac Brown, who wrote the song, had changed his mind about licensing it to the label, and he wanted to record the song himself. ^[4] Brown ultimately recorded the song as a member of the Zac Brown Band, whose rendition was a Number One hit in late 2008.

"Chicken Fried" was then withdrawn and replaced with "Call Me Crazy", which went on to peak at #43. Following it was "Why Me", which reached #45. These latter two songs were both included on The Lost Trailers' self-titled album for BNA, which was issued in August of that year. ^[5]

2008

In 2008, The Lost Trailers went on a nationwide tour with fellow country music artists Keith Anderson and Chris Young. ^[6] The band's fourth single for BNA, "Holler Back", was released in early 2008. ^[7] "Holler Back", which reached #9 on the country charts in late 2008, is also the title track to the band's second album for BNA. The band was also nominated for Top New Vocal Duo or Group and Top Vocal Group at the 2009 Academy of Country Music awards. ^[8]

Following "Holler Back" was "How 'bout You Don't", which was released in October and peaked in the Top 20. "All This Love" was originally to have been the third single, but after "Country Folks Livin' Loud" charted as an album cut, it was sent to radio as the third single instead.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Chart Positions			Label
		US Country	US	US Heat
2000	Story of the New Age Cowboy	—	—	—	Two State Brothers
2002	Trailer Trash	—	—	—	self-released
2004	Welcome to the Woods	—	—	—	Universal/Republic
2006	The Lost Trailers	46	—	16	BNA
2008	Holler Back	5	32	—
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions			Album
		US Country	US	CAN Country
2004	"Down in the Valley"	—	—	—	Welcome to the Woods
2006	"Chicken Fried"	52	—	—	Non-album song
	"Call Me Crazy"	43	—	—	The Lost Trailers
	"Why Me"	45	—	—
2008	"Holler Back"	9	66	36	Holler Back
	"How 'bout You Don't"	17	104	—
2009	"Country Folks (Livin' Loud)"[A	44
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

;Notes:

• A ^ Current single.

Music videos

Year	Video	Director
2006	"Call Me Crazy"	Traci Goudie
	"Why Me"	Eric Welch
2008	"Holler Back"	Tyson Wisbrock
2009	"How 'Bout You Don't"

References

1. The Lost Trailers
2. The Lost Trailers biography
3. Who's New: The Lost Trailers
4. BNA Forced To Swap Trailers' Single
5. New Artist Spotlight: The Lost Trailers
6. Keith Anderson Says C'mon 2008
7. Hey Ya'll from the snowy Midwest
8. Nominees