Today we turn our focus to a band that came together when the two founders met while attending the University of North Texas in Denton. The group worked their way up the Texas music charts to become a self-made success story in Nashville.

Country Thunder USA In Twin Lakes, Wisconsin - Day 2
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Mike Eli and James Young met when they became roommates while freshmen at the University of North Texas. Their dorm room became their practice room as they began playing together and writing soon after meeting. Before long, Chris Thompson and Jon Jones began sitting in with them, and the Eli Young Band was born.

While still in college, the group played continually around the Denton and North Texas area. They released their first album, a self-titled project, independently in 2002. In 2005, they signed with a small, Texas based label, Carnival Records and released their second album Level. To support the album, the group toured as Miranda Lambert's opening act. The tour gained the EYB national exposure on CMT and GAC, helping the group to build a following well beyond their previous fan base. The following year saw the release of their live album Eli Young Band Live at The Jolly Fox. The group would spend the next year opening for Texas Country superstars Pat Green, Jack Ingram and Robert Earl Keen.

2012 American Country Awards - Arrivals
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While they were on tour, the group made song writing a priority as they began to ramp up for their next studio project. The hard work paid off, as the group's next album, Jet Black & Jealous, charted their first top-40 hit "When It Rains" and the group's first top-10 hit "Always the Love Songs"; two more singles from the album failed to crack the top-40.

Republic Nashville signed the group in 2011, and their first album for the label, Life at Best was released later than year. The first single from the album, "Crazy Girl" became the groups best selling single, its first platinum selling single, and the group's first number 1 hit. And, at year's end, Billboard Magazine's year end chart named it the number 1 single for the year. In 2012, the accolades continues as the song was named the ACM Song of the Year award, also garnering nominations for Top Vocal Group and Single of the Year. Not to be outdone, the album's second single, "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" also hit the top of the country charts and added Grammy award nominations for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song in 2012. The band was again nominated for ACM Vocal Group and Song of the Year in 2013.

BMI #1 Party For The Eli Young Band
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In 2013, EYB released their fifth studio album, 10,000 Towns, which featured the lead single "Drunk Last Night". The single became the group's third #1 hit, and when the album was released it debuted straight to the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart. The album netted the group ACM Vocal Group of the Year nominations in both 2013 and 2014. The second single from the album, "Dust" peaked at #15. EYB followed the album up with an EP, Turn It On in 2015, and the title track from it peaked at #37.

The group has been back in the studio, working on an as yet unnamed project. The first single from the forthcoming album is in our spotlight today. The Eli Young Band and "Saltwater Gospel" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

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