music.wikisort.org - Poet

Kirk Joshua Baxley (born 28 October 1980) is a rock singer from Texas, United States. The four time nominee for "Best Frontman and Vocal Performance" in the Dallas Observer and three time nominee for "Best Frontman" in the Austin Chronicle are a testament to his talent and charisma.[1]

Kirk Baxley
Background information
Birth name	Kirk Joshua Baxley
Also known as	Baxley
Born	(1980-10-28) October 28, 1980 (age 41) Temple, Texas
Genres	Rock Pop Rock Hip hop Alternative RNB Country Texas Country
Occupation(s)	Singer musician songwriter producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals guitar bass drums keyboards
Years active	1997-present

Early life

At age 6, Baxley began doing Elvis impersonations with his family backing him musically. Baxley has credited "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" to how he works a crowd and fronts a band. At the age of 11, he began to play guitar as a self taught musician. At the age of 15, he joined his first band, the Moondogs, a Beatles cover band. At the age of 16, he joined his second band called Plumbline, in which he played percussion and guitar and sang background vocals. Two members of Plumbline and Baxleydecided to branch off and form their very own band called Unveiled.

This band would be the foundation laid for the musical and spiritual experiences to come. Baxley toured and played many dates with this band until the age of 19 when he felt called into youth ministry in Salado, Tx. For a year and a half, he stayed involved in youth ministry until the calls from youth events, churches, etc., were too overwhelming to ignore and he felt truly called to step back into the music business.[2]

Music career

1997–2000: Unveiled

Unveiled started playing together in 1997. They released one cassette tape entitled "Blush" recorded and produced by Baxley's uncle Richard Schrimscher, and one self titled cd/album in 2000. They toured regionally playing youth events, youth rallies, Church services, etc... Baxley was one of the two singers in the band. Also in the band, was Drummer James Culpepper of the band Flyleaf. Other members were Aaron Carder, Benny Love, Brad Johnson, and Robert "Bob-O" Cabla. The shared stages with bands such as Between Thieves, Sevenchannels, and Wide Awake.

Members

Member	Position
Kirk Baxley	Vocal/guitar
Brad Johnson	Vocal
James Culpepper	Keyboards/drums
Benny Love	Drums
Robert "Bob-O" Cabla	Guitars

Album

Year	Album Title		Details
1999/2000	Unveiled		Self Titled Debut Album

2001–2006: Greatness In Tragedy

Greatness In Tragedy was originally formed in Belton, Texas. Although the lineup may have changed a little over the years, Baxley remained the front-man for the bands entirety. The band's sound captures the intensely flamboyant 70s classic rock feel. The band released one self titled album produced by David Castell. Justin Furstenfeld, of Blue October, produced and sang background vocals on the song entitled "Give" on the Debut album. During these tours, Baxley was invited to feature on the Blue October album "Foiled" where he sang background vocals on the song "Drilled a Wire Through My Cheek."

"Drilled a Wire Through My Cheek" was also included on the Saw III soundtrack and features guest vocals by Baxley. It is the "heaviest" track on the album because of its masochistic themed lyrics.[3]

The band has shared the stage with national acts, including Gin Blossoms, Seven Mary Three, Soul Asylum, Blue October, Flickerstick, Bowling for Soup, Burden Brothers, Edgewater, Simple Plan, Ünloco, Vallejo, and Pushmonkey.

During the summer of 2006 Greatness In Tragedy broke up so that members of the group could "pursue other things" (sic).[4]

Original members

Member	Position
Kirk Baxley	Vocals/guitars
Jerry Drew	Guitars
Beau Bishop	Bass
Will Von Bolton	Drums
Dave Dunlap	Guitars

Other members

Member	Position
Joel Armstrong	Drums
Jonathan Smith	Guitars
Chance Riehl	Guitars
Charles McRae	Bass
Aaron Carder	Guitars

Album[5]

Year	Album Title	Details
2004	Greatness In Tragedy	Self Titled Debut Album

2000–2001, 2007-2008: Kirk Baxley and The Buckshot Jones

The band recorded one seven song EP at Baby Steps Productions Studios and never released the material. The band toured regionally for a year before Baxley left to pursue other options.

The band share the stage with acts such as Flickerstick, Stoney LaRue, and Granger Smith.[1]

Members

Member	Position
Kirk Baxley	Vocals/guitar
Jonathan Wisinski	Bass
Jessie Howeth	guitars/keyboard/accordion/bells
Jon Cooper	Drums

2007–2012: Mothers Anthem

Formed in 2007, the band toured regionally and on a national level developing a devoted fan base. In late 2007, the band signed a management deal with Jeff Peters of Maple Jam Music Group out of Los Angeles, CA, and continued to tour. In 2009 MA recorded a studio album produced by David Castell titled "Save The Fallen."[6] The album included twelve studio tracks and a live performance track of the song "Amaze Me" from the included live performance DVD entitled "An Evening With Mothers Anthem."[7][8] In late 2009, while touring through Portland, OR the band recorded a five song demo with singer/song writer/producer Rob Daiker. After touring "Save The Fallen" nationally in 2011 MA recorded a new EP "The Death Of Me" with producer Dwight Baker that was never released. The band shared the stage with acts such as Great White, Jackyl, C&C music factory, Naughty by Nature, Blue October, Hurt, The Hunger, Flyleaf, Paper Tongues, Citizen Cope, After Midnight Project, 30 seconds to Mars, Sounds Under Radio, Vallejo, Burden Brothers, Bowling For Soup.[9][10][11] Averaging 150 to 200 tour dates a year and showcasing for many major label groups the band dissolved in 2011/2012.

Members

Member	Position
Kirk Baxley	Vocals/Keyboards
Zak Loy	Guitars
Drew Walters	Bass
Julian Mandrake	Guitars
Jonathan "Jono" Scott	Drums

Album[12]

Year	Album Title	Detail
2009	Save The Fallen	Double Disc set that included 10 studio tracks and the live performance entitled "An Evening With Mothers Anthem".
2011	The Death Of Me	Unreleased album

2012–2016 Kirk Baxley (band)

During this four year period, Baxley toured regionally and nationally and had a rotating cast of musicians, releasing three albums. Baxley returned to his roots with honest song-writing matched up with a raw, gospel influenced voice.[13] On his first two EPs during this time, Baxkey wrote and recorded with his band and tracked those albums at EMP Studios with producer/engineer Tycer Whaley in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2016, with the help of his fan base, Baxkey and his management at the time Vision Entertainment, were able to raise over twenty thousand dollars to help release "The Pain We Bring."[3] The album was produced by Chad Mauldin and recorded at Kiepersol Studios in Bullard,Texas. In 2016, the Kirk Baxley band performed and received "Best Country Band of the year" award in Waco, Texas at the MACT Groovy Award Ceremony.[7] In early May 2017 the band toured with Danny Worsnop's (Asking Alexandria) side prodject.[9][10]

During this time Baxley and his band shared the stage with many notable artists such as John Anderson, Pat Green,Aaron Watson, Josh Abbott, William Clark Green, Stoney LaRue, Roger Creager, Jack Ingram, Josh Ward, Kevin Fowler, Koe Wetzel, and many more.[4]

During these tours and in the process of making the album, Baxley started experiencing major vocal problems, and halted the project.

Touring Band

Members	Position
Nick "Diamond" Arbuckle	bass
Jonathan Bautista	drums
Brent Williams	guitars/pedal steel
Ricky Reyes	drums
Brian Conner	bass/drums
Micah Vasquez	bass
Harold Trey Glaspie III	guitars
Kyle Samuel	guitars
Zak Loy	guitars
John Laufenberg	fiddle/mandolin/guitars
Matt Wiley	guitars
Jessie Howeth	guitars/pedal steel
Gabriel Carrero	guitars
Charles McRae	bass
Joel Armstrong	drums

Album

Year	Album	Details
2014	Self-Titled EP	Self produced/ Released by Built By Hand Records
2015	Badlands EP	Self produced/ Released by Built By Hand Records
2017	The Pain We Bring	Produced by Chad Mauldin

May 29, 2016: Vocal surgery

Baxley received word, after many check-ups, that he had a polyp and a hemorrhage on his left vocal chord. Baxley finished the production of the album "The Pain We Bring" and opted for Laser vocal surgery. Baxley underwent speech therapy and vocal therapy for six months and began tour dates. Baxley did not feel the same vocally and struggled through a 50 date radio tour. Baxley played one last show with his band at Johnny's Outback in Salado, Texas, with Pat Green on August 5, 2017.[6] On stage that night, Baxley stated "It's been an incredible Journey. After my vocal surgery I don't feel the same and I think it's time to hang it up. God Bless you guys and I'm very thankful for your support."

2019 - Now: Baxley.

Baxley, now referred to as "Baxley." resurfaced in 2019 with a self titled Alternative R&B album produced by himself, Tomahawk Jonez, and Jay Analog. (a collective called "The Institute." from Dallas, TX) He played his first live show as the artist Baxley. in Austin, Tx at Cedar Street Court yard, to a packed house, on February 15, 2020.[14]

Year	Album	Details
2019	baxley.	Produced by The Institute/baxley. released by The Movement Label Group

References

---