Blue Merle

Nashville's Blue Merle originated its reflective and emotionally resonant style once singer, songwriter and guitarist Luke Reynolds connected with standup bassist Jason Oettel. Only four months after that meeting, the president of Sony Publishing, who had been listening in on a studio take, extended the duo their initial production and publishing agreement. Reynolds and Oettel found the proposal remarkable yet chose instead to build a complete band that would place them center stage in the industry rather than in supporting roles. Mandolinist Beau Stapleton came aboard first, drummer William Ellis joined next, and the group took its name, Blue Merle, from a lyric in Led Zeppelin's "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp." Early touring slots alongside Badly Drawn Boy, J.J. Cale and Jem, plus appearances at Farm Aid and Bonnaroo, strengthened their following while leading critics to draw parallels with acts ranging from Toad the Wet Sprocket to the Counting Crows. Producer Stephen Harris, whose credits include U2 and the Dave Matthews Band, helped shape the band's debut album, Burning in the Sun, which appeared on the Island label in early 2005.