The Wilkinsons is a country music trio from Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1998, the group comprises lead singer Amanda Wilkinson, her brother Tyler Wilkinson, and their father, Steve Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons achieved success late in 1998 with the hit single "26 Cents", a Number One on the Canadian country music charts and Top 5 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts. It was followed by "Fly (The Angel Song)", also a #1 in Canada. Although their U.S. success waned after "26 Cents", The Wilkinsons have continued to have singles in the charts in Canada. Lead singer Amanda Wilkinson has also created several solo recordings in addition to her career in The Wilkinsons.

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History

Steve Wilkinson was born on August 18, 1955 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. ^[1] Before the country trio was formed, he was struggling to make ends meet after he lost his job at a nuclear power plant due to downsizing. He took menial jobs in order to provide for his family, but his real passion was music. Their success in the music world began in 1998 when The Wilkinsons moved to the heart of country music, Nashville, Tennessee. Steve and his wife, Christine, along with their three children Amanda, Tyler and Kiaya arrived in Nashville with an old 1982 yellow Cadillac pulling a tent trailer and with $17,000 to their name.

They performed at an Atlanta club for an investor showcase where Mark Willis asked if he could perform "26 Cents". Steve turned down the offer made by Willis, though he regretted his decision during the four hour drive back to Nashville. However, Steve’s regret was short lived when Reese Wilson invited the group to sing in Nashville’s famous Broken Spoke nightclub. The Wilkinsons amazed the crowd and a record company bidding war commenced. They had been in Nashville for just ten days. While the war ensued, the group met and sang for Vince Gill. Gill was moved to tears by fifteen-year-old Amanda’s powerful voice and surprised the trio by inviting them to sing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Gill accompanied The Wilkinsons with the song "I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry". Shortly after, the group signed with Giant Records.

Career

The Wilkinsons' first album, Nothing But Love , reached #16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts in 1998. The trio have been nominated for the Country Music Association's Horizon Award and Vocal Group of the Year and for Single of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards. Their second album, Here and Now , won the Canadian Country Music Association award for Best Album. The band has received nine Canadian Country Music Awards, one Juno Award and two Grammy nominations (both for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group). ^[2]

Move to BNA Records

In 2001, after the release of their third album Shine , the singing family trio were dropped by Giant Records when it closed its Nashville division. The trio was signed to BNA Records. Weeks before the release of their first single for BNA, the label's president wanted Amanda to record a solo album, which would ultimately disband the trio. The trio eventually left the label and signed with the independent Canadian label Open Road Records for their 2005 album, Highway .

Solo work

Amanda Wilkinson signed with Universal South Records and released her self-titled album, Amanda Wilkinson . Amanda received four nominations at the 2006 Canadian Country Music Awards (Single of the Year, CMT Video of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year).

Tyler started the alternative rock band Motion Picture Ending. The band is composed of drummer and long-time friend Justin Devries, bassist Curtis Weekes, guitarist Greg Bolton and lead singer and guitarist Tyler Wilkinson.

Present

In 2007, The Wilkinsons won Independent Group of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards.

Greatest Hits… and Then Some , a greatest hits album, was released on October 7, 2008. The first single, "When I'm Old", was released in mid 2008.

Reality television

The Wilkinsons were also the subject of a fictionalized "reality" television program on the CMT Canada network, The Wilkinsons . The show follows the family as they move back to The Quinte Area, Ontario, from Nashville, Tennessee. In 2006, the show was nominated for Country Music Program or Special of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions				Certifications (sales thresholds)
		CAN Country	US Country	US	US Heat
1998	Nothing but Love Released: August 11, 1998 Label: Giant Records	4	16	133	4	US: Gold CAN: Gold
2000	Here and Now Released: April 4, 2000 Label: Giant Records	5	13	114	2
2001	Shine Released: May 22, 2001 Label: Warner Bros. Nashville		—	—	—
2005	Highway Released: March 29, 2005 Label: Open Road Recordings		—	—	—
2007	Home Released: March 20, 2007 Label: Fontana North	10	—	—	—
— denotes the album failed to chart or not released * denotes unknown peak positions

Compilation albums

Year	Album details	CAN Country
2008	Greatest Hits… and Then Some Released: October 7, 2008 Label: Angeline Entertainment	24

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions			Album
		CAN Country	US Country	US
1998	"26 Cents"	1	3	55	Nothing but Love
	"Fly (The Angel Song)"	1	15	53
1999	"Boy Oh Boy"	3	50	—
	"The Yodelin' Blues"	—	45	—
	"Nothing but Love (Standing in the Way)"	12	—	—
2000	"Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend"	11	34	—	Here and Now
	"Shame on Me"	10	49	—
	"1999"		—	—
2001	"I Wanna Be That Girl"		51	—	Shine
2004	"L.A."		—	—	Highway
	"Little Girl"	22	—	—
2005	"Leaving Song"	—	—	—
2006	"Six Pack"	—	—	—	Home
	"Fast Car"	—	—	—
2007	"Papa Come Quick"	34	—	—
	"Nobody Died"	23	—	—
2008	"Closets"	—	—	—
	"When I'm Old"	30	—	—	Greatest Hits… and Then Some
2009	"You Heal Me"	—	—	—
— denotes the single failed to chart or not released * denotes unknown peak positions

References

1. http://www.thewilkinsons.tv/bios.htm
2. http://www.winspearcentre.com/content.asp?contentid=645&catid=20&rootid=6