3 of the Best Chris Stapleton Songs Before He Went Solo and Took Over Country Music

Many are unaware of the long and colorful journey Chris Stapleton took before he went solo. The man is not a one-trick pony; his long path to fandom proves that true. Prior to playing music professionally, Stapleton left Kentucky, moved to Nashville, and pursued an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University. However, he then dropped out to pursue his music career, which was partially started by The SteelDrivers and The Jompson Brothers.

If one is a devout Stapleton fan, then none of this information is new. On the contrary, before Stapleton went on to make massive hits such as “Tennesse Whiskey” and “Starting Over,” he was the lead singer for a bluegrass and Southern rock ‘n’ roll band. In essence, his stint with The SteelDrivers and The Jompson Brothers helped create his sound and musical stature. So, here are the best three songs Stapleton and his former bands released before he went solo.

1. “Where Rainbows Never Die” by The SteelDrivers

Released by The SteelDrivers in 2010 on Reckless, Chris Stapleton’s traditional bluegrass roots are shown in full force. Between the combination of contemporary bluegrass and Stapleton’s sharply smooth voice, the song is arguably one of the best The SteelDrivers and Stapleton songs of all time. Furthermore, the lyrics are an exemplary use of storytelling and also show Stapleton’s talent as a storyteller who can carry a song merely through his ideas.

Following its release, the song received a Grammy nomination and the album received another Grammy nomination for Best Country Album of the Year. Despite not winning either nominations or performing well on the charts, the song still is considerably one of the best bluegrass songs of the ‘2000s.

2.  “On The Run” by The Jompson Brothers

Stapleton founded The Jompson Brothers in 2010 and played alongside them until 2013. In that short three years, the Southern rock group created music that Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers would likely be jealous of. The song that stands out in their catalog is “On The Run,” which was released in 2010 on their debut self-titled album.

“On The Run” is an expansively delightful Southern rock song encompassing blues, classic and punk rock, and traditional folk-style lyrics. The song proves that Chris Stapleton is a jack of all trades, as there is seemingly no one genre the man can’t play.

 “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” by The SteelDrivers

Frankly, this song is interchangeable with No. 1. Nonetheless, “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” is one of the best songs in Stapleton’s catalog. It’s songs such as this one that made people fall in love with Stapleton, as he was and still is, a refreshing sense of new-wave nostalgia in the Nashville country music scene. Released in 2008 on their self-titled debut album, the song made The Steeldrivers a force to be reckoned with in country music.

The song was actually so universally incredible, that Adele even covered it. She released the cover on her 2011 album 21, and it became one of the album’s biggest hits. All of these songs listed helped propel Stapleton into his solo career. If it wasn’t for The SteelDrivers and The Jompson Brothers, who knows what Stapleton would be doing. Maybe building rocket ships or playing more bluegrass. Regardless, if you want to know exactly how Chris Stapleton created himself, give these songs a listen.

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