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Biography
Magazine|date=December 2007Primary sources|date=June 2009Infobox musical artist | | name = Sister Hazel| image = | caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville , Florida , USA | genre = Alternative rock Post-grunge http://www.allmusic.com/artist/sister-hazel-p200492 Southern rock | years_active = 1993–present| label = Croakin' Poets (1993 - 1997) Universal Records|Universal (1997 - 2002) Sixthman (2002 - 2005) Croakin' Poets (2005 - Present)| associated_acts =| website = Official website| http://www.sisterhazel.com| current_members = Ken Block (musician)|Ken Block Jett Beres Andrew Copeland Ryan Newell Mark Trojanowski | past_members = Sister Hazel are an alternative rock band from Gainesville, Florida , whose style also blends elements of folk rock , pop music|pop , classic rock 'n' roll and southern rock . Their music is characterized by highly melodic tunes and generally optimistic lyrics. The band's instrumentation often features abrupt shifts among electric, acoustic and a cappella , with striking use of tacet s. Though often described as alternative, Sister Hazel leans toward an upbeat sound and away from the clashing punk rock|punk discordance often associated with the alternative rock genre.
History
Sister Hazel formed in Gainesville, Florida in 1993 and was named for Sister Hazel Williams, a local nun who ran a homeless shelter. http://www.songfacts.com/int/2008/05/ken-block-of-sister-hazel.html Ken Block Songfacts interview. Songfacts . Retrieved June 5, 2008. The group released its Sister Hazel (album)|self-titled debut album in 1994 through its independent record label , Croakin' Poets and shortly after its release, singer/guitarist Ryan Newell and drummer Mark Trojanowski joined the band. Newell played on the album before officially joining the group.
The band's second album, Somewhere More Familiar|...Somewhere More Familiar was released in 1997 and sold approximately 30,000 copies through its initial pressing, prompting Universal Records to sign the band. Universal re-released ...Somewhere More Familiar in late 1997. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1434094/20000524/sister_hazel.jhtml Sister Hazel Taps Three-Headed Monster For "Fortress". MTV . Retrieved July 11, 2009. A single from the album, " All for You (Sister Hazel song)|All For You " hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the band's most successful single.
The band's third album Fortress (Sister Hazel album)|Fortress was released in 2000 by Universal. The band worked with producers Mike Clink ( Guns N' Roses , Mötley Crüe , Heart (band)|Heart ), Richie Zito ( Cheap Trick ), and Paul Ebersold ( 3 Doors Down ). The album featured minor pop hits "Champagne High" and "Change Your Mind."
In 2003 , after the band split from Universal, they released their fourth studio album, Chasing Daylight , on the Sixthman label and toured throughout the year to promote the album. The band's internet presence emerged during this time period, and hardcore fans dubbing themselves "Hazelnuts" studied setlists, shared Bootleg recording|bootleg concert recordings, and initiated a promotion scheme with the band through their http://www.sisterhazel.com official website. 2003 also saw the simultaneous release of Live*LIVE , a two-disc live album, and A Life in the Day , a live DVD .
In 2004 , Sister Hazel released their next studio album Lift (Sister Hazel album)|Lift . Songs from Lift were re-recorded for 2005's Lift: Acoustic Renditions , an EP of studio acoustic takes on five of the songs, offered exclusively through Apple Computer|Apple 's iTunes Store . In July 2005, the Sister Hazel album was re-issued again by Sixthman, in response to claims that the album had become difficult to find in stores.
Sister Hazel then promoted their album, Absolutely (Sister Hazel album)|Absolutely , which was released on October 10, 2006. The band also continued to tour and hold annual fan gathering events, The Rock Boat and The Rock Slope . Absolutely is the band's highest charting album on the Billboard (magazine)|Billboard charts following Fortress and it received 4 out of a possible 5 stars from Allmusic , a tie with Fortress s score.
On June 5, 2007, Sister Hazel released a "hybrid" album entitled BAM& #33; Volume 1 . It contains B-sides from the Absolutely recording sessions and some from previous albums.
Sister Hazel also released a holiday album called ''Santa's Playlist on September 25, 2007.
On February 9, 2008, Sister Hazel performed a live concert at Daytona International Speedway for the Budweiser Shootout .
Sister Hazel released a live acoustic album on June 17, 2008 entitled Before The Amplifiers, Live Acoustic on Croakin' Poets/ Rock Ridge Music . The record features sixteen tracks, including the band's hits, fan favorites, and live concert staples, all in a stripped-down, acoustic format. The album was recorded on January 12 at Nickel & Dime Studios in Atlanta (other bands who have recorded there in the past include Indigo Girls , The B-52's , Shawn Mullins ) in front of 100 lucky fans who were chosen at random from more than five thousand entries.
At the July 18, 2008 concert at Wolf Trap Farm Park , drummer Mark Trojanowski took paternity leave for his newborn child. Former Vertical Horizon and current Doobie Brothers drummer Ed Toth played in his place.
On July 9, 2009 Ford Motor Company announced a collaboration with Sister Hazel to promote the company's new Sync Technology, which is available on a number of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles. The band has been chosen to be the face of the company's "Sync My Ride" website, www.syncmyride.com. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i3c6dccc0e0549069a94003ce52f4e154 Sister Hazel 'Sync's' with Ford. Billboard (magazine) . Retrieved July 11, 2009.
The band released their seventh studio album of original songs (tenth album overall) on August 18, 2009. The album, entitled Release (Sister Hazel album)|Release , contains 12 tracks and is on the Rock Ridge Music label. http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/musicnews/article/1415/Sister-Hazel-To-Release-Release Sister Hazel to Release "Release". Alternative Addiction . Retrieved July 11, 2009. On the day of release, Release was the number one album on iTunes. http://skopemag.com/2009/08/19/sister-hazel%E2%80%99s-new-album-goes-straight-to-the-top-of-itunes-rock-chart
The band entered the studio less than six months after releasing Release and began work on their new album, Heartland Highway . The album was released on October 12, 2010, and featured "Stay a While" as the first radio single.
Use in media
The band has had music featured in several movies and soundtracks including Major League: Back to the Minors , The Wedding Planner , Clay Pigeons , Bedazzled (2000 film)|Bedazzled , American Wedding , and 10 Things I Hate About You . Sister Hazel also appear on the Fleetwood Mac tribute album, ''Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours with their cover version of " Gold Dust Woman ". In 1999, they recorded a cover of " September Gurls " for the Big Star (band)|Big Star tribute album, Big Star, Small World . However, the track was not included when the album was released in 2006. The song "Where Do You Go" was featured on Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs (Season 6, Episode 4, " My House ").
Band members
Ken Block (musician)|Ken Block - lead vocals , steel-string acoustic guitar|acoustic guitar
Jett Beres - bass guitar|bass , harmony vocals
Andrew Copeland - rhythm guitar , Singing|vocals
Ryan Newell - lead guitar|lead and slide guitar|slide guitar , harmony vocals
"Let Your Love Flow" – Clay Pigeons soundtrack – 1998
Live*LIVE – Live album – March 2003
A Life in the Day – Live DVD – March 2003
Chasing Daylight - Acoustic EP – August 2004 (downloadable exclusive)
Lift: Acoustic Renditions – April 2005 (downloadable exclusive)
Just the Tip - Single – September 2006 (downloadable exclusive)
BAM& #33; Volume 1 – June 5, 2007 (B-Sides album)
''Santa's Playlist – September 25, 2007 (Holiday album)
Before the Amplifiers, Live Acoustic – June 17, 2008
Threeve – EP – June 1, 2010 (iTunes downloadable exclusive)
11411 – Compilation/Sampler – January 3, 2011 (Amazon.com downloadable exclusive)
This is Gator Country - 2011 (featured on a special compilation CD titled "You're In Gator Country", sold exclusively by the University Athletic Association of the University of Florida )
http://www.swigged.net/index.php? option=com_content& view=article& id=528:swiggedtv-interview-with-sister-hazel Video Interview with Ken Block of Sister Hazel on http://www.swigged.net Swigged!
Official website| http://www.sisterhazel.com
myspace|id=sisterhazel
http://sisterhazel.onthestreets.net Official Street Team
Category:Musical groups from Gainesville, Florida Category:Musical groups from Florida Category:American post-grunge musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1993
