‘Catch of the Day’ – Terry McBride – “Hotels & Highways” [VIDEO]

Today we give a listen to new music from a second generation country artist, who first made a name as the leader of the band The Ride, a group that recorded 6 albums from 1989 to 1994 and again from 2000 to 2002. In between runs with the band he focused on songwriting, finding great success thanks to Brooks and Dunn, who recorded more than 20 of his songs.

Terry McBride came to Nashville as the lead singer of McBride & The Ride, but he wasn't a stranger to music city. Terry is the son of 70's country artist Dale McBride, who charted several singles in the seventies. The Ride came together in 1989 when MCA Records executive vice president Tony Brown decided that the label needed a country act to compete with Alabama, who he saw beginning to fade from popularity. Brown may have been on to something as Randy Owen & company only had 23 more top-10 hits and 5 number 1s.

Brown put together studio musicians McBride (bass & vocals), Ray Herndon (guitar) and drummer Billy Thomas, and The Ride began. The group's debut album Burnin' Up The Road was released in 1991 and the top-20 single "Can I Count On You". It was the group's second album, 1992's Sacred Ground that launched the trio, and was their most successful album. Sacred Ground scored three top-5 hits, including the title track, which would peak at #2 and become their highest charting single.

After the band's next album, 1993's Hurry Sundown failed to crack the top 50, though it did spawn a top-10 single, with a second single, the album's title track, landing in the top-20, the label decided to change the focus from the group as a whole, to McBride. Not wanting to be pushed into the back ground, both Herndon and Thomas left The Ride and were replaced by musicians that had been part of the trios tour band. The group was rebranded McBride and The Ride and released a self-titled album which again failed to crack the top-50, but this time all three singles also failed to move beyond #50 on the singles chart.

After the lack of success from the album McBride and The Ride, the group disbanded in 1995 and McBride hit the road, joining Brooks and Dunn as their bass player. During this time he also concentrated on writing, penning four singles for Brooks & Dunn: "I Am That Man", "He's Got You" and "I Can't Get Over You", which were all top-5 singles and the #1 hit "If You She Him/If You See Her", which B & D recorded with Reba McEntire.

In September of 2000, the three original group members, Herndon, McBride and Thomas ran into each other at an event in Scottsdale, AZ, and began talking about the possibility of a reunion, after an impromptu performance of "No More Cryin'". Herndon actually suggested they continue as McBride and The Ride, and when their 2002 album Amarillo Sky was released, that was the band's name. The album failed to chart and of its three singles, only one charted and it peaked at #50. Most notable from the album was it's title track, which was written by "Big Kenny" Alpin and John Rich, prior to them forming the MuzikMafia and Big & Rich. The song was recorded by Jason Aldean in 2006 for his self-titled debut album; the song became a #4 single for Aldean in 2007.

Once again McBride & The Ride disbanded, with Terry returning to Brooks & Dunn's tour band, and also writing more songs for the duo, who recorded over 20 of McBride's compositions. These recordings included the hits "Cowgirls Don't Cry, "Play Something Country" and "Proud of the House We Built" as well as numerous album cuts. He also wrote Reba McEntire's 2010 #1 hit "I Keep On Loving You" and Josh Gracin's 2005 single "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)". He is currently working on his first solo album, and the lead single from the project is in our spotlight today. Terry McBride tells tales from the road with "Hotels and Highways", today's Catch of the Day, brought to you by All-American Car Wash of Lawton. It's new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.