David Brent Nail (born May 18, 1979) is an American country music artist and the frontman of David Nail & The Well Ravens.[3] In 2002, he debuted the single "Memphis" from an unreleased album for Mercury Records Nashville. Five years later, he signed with MCA Nashville, for which he has released four studio albums: I'm About to Come Alive, The Sound of a Million Dreams, I'm a Fire, and Fighter plus two extended plays, 1979 and Uncovered. The albums have produced seven chart entries on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including two that have reached No. 1: "Let It Rain" (featuring Sarah Buxton) and "Whatever She's Got", plus the top 10 hit "Red Light".
David Nail | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Nail in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Brent Nail |
| Born | May 18, 1979[1] Kennett, Missouri, U.S.[2] |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active |
|
| Labels | |
| Website | davidnail |
Career
editDavid Nail's first recording contract was with Mercury Records Nashville, a division of Universal Music Group Nashville.[4] While there, he recorded a self-titled debut album, which was produced by Keith Stegall and John Kelton.[2] The lead-off single, "Memphis", reached number 52 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts. Deborah Evans Price gave the song a mostly-positive review, calling it a "solid performance" but saying that she considered its storyline implausible.[5] Advance copies of the album were sent to radio stations, but it was not commercially released.[6] He also sang backing vocals on the track "But I Can't Let You Go" on then-labelmate Meredith Edwards' 2001 album Reach.[7]
I'm About to Come Alive and The Sound of a Million Dreams (2007–2012)
editNail signed to MCA Records Nashville, also a division of Universal Music Group Nashville, in April 2007.[6] His debut album for the label, I'm About to Come Alive, was produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke, the same producers who work with Miranda Lambert. The album includes a duet with Lambert, co-writes with Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts' lead singer Gary LeVox, and five songs that Nail co-wrote.[8]
The first single was "I'm About to Come Alive", originally recorded by Train on their 2003 album My Private Nation.[9] Nail's version peaked at number 47 on the country chart. The second single, "Red Light," entered Top 40 in May 2009 and peaked at number 7. "Turning Home", which Chesney co-wrote with Scooter Carusoe, was the album's third single,[10] reaching a peak of number 20.
In February 2011, Nail released his fifth single, "Let It Rain", which featured Sarah Buxton on guest vocals. It served as the lead-off single to his second studio album, The Sound of a Million Dreams, which was released on November 15, 2011.[11] In January 2012, "Let It Rain" became Nail's first No. 1 hit. The title track was released as the album's second and final single, and reached a peak of number 38 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
Nail released a three-track digital EP titled 1979 on July 17, 2012. The EP includes a cover of Adele's "Someone like You".[12]
I'm a Fire and Fighter (2013–2017)
editA new single, "Whatever She's Got", was released to country radio on May 28, 2013. It served as the lead-off single to his third studio album, I'm a Fire, which was released on March 4, 2014.[13] It reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in February 2014. The second single from the album was announced to be "Kiss You Tonight", co-written by David Cook, an American Idol winner.[14]
On July 20, 2015, David Nail released a new single entitled "Night's on Fire." The song peaked at No. 14 on Country Airplay in July 2016, and served as the lead-off single to his fourth studio album Fighter.
In May 2016 he released an EP of covers titled "Uncovered." It included "In the Ghetto", "Can't Feel My Face", "In the Air Tonight", and "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)".
In September 2016, the album's second single, "Good at Tonight" featuring Brothers Osborne, was released to country radio. It failed to reach the Top 50 of the country charts and it was announced in early 2017 that David Nail had parted ways with MCA Nashville after 10 years with the label.[15]
David Nail and The Well Ravens (2018–present)
editIn July 2018, Nail announced a new project as the frontman of the band David Nail & The Well Ravens.[16] The band's first album titled Only This And Nothing More, was independently released on September 14, 2018.[17]
Personal life
editNail was born and grew up in Kennett, Missouri, where his father was a high school band director. He married longtime girlfriend Catherine Werne on June 6, 2009, in Franklin, Tennessee. On December 12, 2015, Nail and Werne welcomed twins, son Lawson Brent Nail and daughter Lillian Catherine Nail.[18]
They welcomed a baby girl, Ellie Britton, in 2020.
Nail participated in the 2010 Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game, hitting a home run past the right-field fence in Angel Stadium.[19]
He attended Arkansas State University where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.[20]
He is an avid fan of the MLB's St. Louis Cardinals and sang "God Bless America" during Game 7 of the Cardinals' 2011 World Series game versus the Texas Rangers.
He sang the national anthem at the Mizzou Tigers 2012 homecoming football game versus the University of Kentucky.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [21] |
US [22] | |||
| I'm About to Come Alive |
|
19 | 71 | |
| The Sound of a Million Dreams |
|
8 | 50 |
|
| I'm a Fire |
|
3 | 13 |
|
| Fighter |
|
3 | 26 |
|
Extended plays
edit| Title | Album details | Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 |
|
|
| Uncovered[24] |
|
|
| Only This and Nothing More[26] (as David Nail and The Well Ravens) |
|
|
| Bootheel 2021 |
|
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [28] |
US Country Airplay[29] | US [30] |
CAN Country [31] |
CAN [32] | ||||
| 2002 | "Memphis" | 52 | — | — | — | David Nail (unreleased) | ||
| 2008 | "I'm About to Come Alive" | 47 | — | — | — | I'm About to Come Alive | ||
| 2009 | "Red Light" | 7 | 54 | 38 | — | |||
| 2010 | "Turning Home" | 20 | —A | — | — | |||
| 2011 | "Let It Rain" (featuring Sarah Buxton) |
1 | 51 | 13 | — |
|
The Sound of a Million Dreams | |
| 2012 | "The Sound of a Million Dreams" | 38 | — | — | — | |||
| 2013 | "Whatever She's Got" | 2 | 1 | 35 | 4 | 34 |
|
I'm a Fire |
| 2014 | "Kiss You Tonight" | 25 | 17 | —B | — | — | ||
| 2015 | "Night's on Fire" | 17 | 14 | 81 | 32 | — |
|
Fighter |
| 2016 | "Good at Tonight" (featuring Brothers Osborne) |
— | 52 | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||
- A"Turning Home" did not enter the Hot 100, but peaked at number 17 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.[37]
- B"Kiss You Tonight" did not enter the Hot 100, but peaked at number 3 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
Other charted songs
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country [28] |
US Country Airplay [38] | |||
| 2012 | "Someone like You" | 52 | 49 | 1979 |
| 2015 | "Broke My Heart" | 46 | — | I'm a Fire |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
edit| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "I'm About to Come Alive"[39] | Roman White |
| 2009 | "Red Light"[40] | |
| "Red Light" (acoustic version)[41] | Matt Pfingsten | |
| 2010 | "Turning Home"[42] | Stephen Shepherd |
| 2011 | "Let It Rain"[43] | Stephen Shepherd/David Nail |
| 2012 | "The Sound of a Million Dreams" (acoustic version)[44] | Stephen Shepherd |
| "Half Mile Hill"[45] | ||
| "The Sound of a Million Dreams"[46] | ||
| "Someone Like You"[47] | ||
| 2013 | "Whatever She's Got"[48] | Chris Hicky |
| 2014 | "Kiss You Tonight"[49] | |
| 2015 | "Night's on Fire"[50] | Justin Key |
| 2018 | "Heavy" | — |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Academy of Country Music | Single Record of the Year — "Red Light" | Nominated |
| 2011 | Grammy Awards | Male Country Vocal Performance — "Turning Home" | Nominated |
| 2013 | Academy of Country Music | Vocal Event of the Year — "Let It Rain" (with Sarah Buxton) | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Birthdays". Country Weekly. 17 (21): 58. May 24, 2010. ISSN 1074-3235.
- ^ a b Leggett, Steve. "David Nail biography". Allmusic. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ "David Nail - - About". Archived from the original on July 8, 2016.
- ^ Event Review: WCTO Cat Country 96 Stage At MusicFest
- ^ Price, Deborah Evans (June 15, 2002). "Singles: — David Nail: "Memphis"". Billboard.
- ^ a b "David Nail signs new record deal". Country Standard Time. April 20, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Cohoon, Rick. "Reach". Allmusic. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- ^ "David Nail fans get "Red Light"". Country Standard Time. May 12, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Malec, Jim (April 22, 2008). "David Nail – "I'm About to Come Alive"". The 9513. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Watts, Cindy (January 24, 2010). "David Nail's success starts at 'Red Light'". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
- ^ Betts, Stephen L. (September 28, 2011). "David Nail Fans Will Soon Hear 'The Sound of a Million Dreams'". The Boot. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
- ^ "David Nail Releases 1979 on July 17, 2012". June 29, 2012. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
- ^ "David Nail Releases Track Listing for New Album "I'm a Fire" Out March 4 | Got Country". Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "David Nail Releases "Kiss You Tonight" as Second Single from Upcoming "I'm a Fire" Album | New Country Music, Listen to Songs & Video | Roughstock.com". Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "David Nail Splits With MCA Nashville". Theboot.com. February 15, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ "David Nail & the Well Ravens Premiere 'Heavy' Video, Talk Evolving Idea of Success". Billboard.com. July 1, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
- ^ "David Nail - - David Nail and the Well Ravens". Archived from the original on December 3, 2017.
- ^ "David Nail Welcomes Twins Lawson Brent and Lillian Catherine – Moms & Babies – Celebrity Babies and Kids - Moms & Babies - People.com". Celebritybabies.people.com. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ "Country Décor, American Travel, Southern Food Recipes, Rustic Weddings | GAC". Blog.gactv.com. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "David Nail > Chart History: Top Country Albums". Billboard.
- ^ "David Nail > Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.
- ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016.
- ^ a b Parker, Eric T. (May 20, 2016). "David Nail Releases Surprise EP, Sets Full-Length Project For July". MusicRow. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 27, 2016). "Country Album Sales Chart: September 22, 2016". Roughstock.
- ^ Kelly, Hunter (June 28, 2018). "David Nail Releases Surprise EP, Sets Full-Length Project For July". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 24, 2018). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: September 24, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ a b "David Nail Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ "David Nail Album & Song Chart History – Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "David Nail Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ "David Nail Album & Song Chart History – Canada Country". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- ^ "David Nail Album & Song Chart History – Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ "American single certifications – David Nail – Red Light". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "American single certifications – David Nail – Let It Rain". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "American single certifications – David Nail – Whatever She%27s Got". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "American single certifications – David Nail – Night's on Fire". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 634. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
- ^ "David Nail Album & Song Chart History – Country Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : I'm About to Come Alive". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on April 26, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : Red Light". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ "Red Light (Live) – David Nail | Music Video | VEVO". VEVO. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : Turning Home". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ Mease, Jason (April 14, 2011). "Watch the World Premiere of David Nail's New Video "Let It Rain"". Great American Country. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : The Sound Of A Million Dreams (Acoustic Version)". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : Half Mile Hill". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : The Sound Of A Million Dreams". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : Someone Like You (acoustic)". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : Whatever She's Got". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ Conaway, Alanna (May 16, 2014). "David Nail Releases "Kiss You Tonight" Video Via Esquire". Roughstock. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ "CMT : Videos : David Nail : Night's On Fire (Performance Video)". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.