Hedley Biography

Hedley is a Canadian pop-rock group originating in Abbotsford, British Columbia that formed in 2003. They were named after the unincorporated community of Hedley, British Columbia, a name chosen after members heard that it was for sale for $346,000.

Hedley is known for its singles "Never Too Late," "Cha-Ching" (performed at the closing ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics),"Invincible," "Kiss You Inside Out", and "Wild Life", and for the band members' philanthropic work as ambassadors for the charity Free The Children.

Hedley originally consisted of Jacob Hoggard, Kevin Giesbrecht, Kevin Heeres, Ryan Federau, and Brandon McKay. The band wrote many songs such as Gunnin' and Brave New World (which were later recorded by the current Hedley). The original band bet Jacob Hoggard $150 that he wouldn't make it past auditions for Canadian Idol. Hoggard proved them wrong making it to the top three before being eliminated from the competition. However, shortly after the members decided to go their separate ways, but the band re-formed not long after, with Hoggard as the only original member.

Their debut single "On My Own" reached number 1 on the Canadian Singles Chart and the follow-up "Trip" peaked at number 11. The singles "On My Own", "321", "Trip", and "Gunnin" topped the MuchMusic Countdown.[citation needed] Their last single, "Street Fight", off of their self-titled debut album was successful on both the MuchMusic Countdown and the Canadian Singles Chart.[citation needed] Their first single from their album Famous Last Words, "She's So Sorry", achieved much success on the MuchMusic Countdown.[citation needed]

In 2005 the band went on their first tour across Canada, with The Weekend and Faber(the band currently known as Faber Drive). Then went on a 19 city Canadian tour with Simple Plan and in early 2006, headlining The Get Some Tour cross Canada club tour with MXPX and Faber.

In the summer of 2006, they signed a record deal for the United States with Capitol Records. At the time a division of EMI, Universal Music Group competitor, before being sold in the fold of EMI in 2012 to Universal. Upon signing Hedley's self-titled album was released with a new cover in the US on September 26, 2006, a year after its initial release in Canada. During June 2006, the band went on tour in the US, opening for fellow Capitol Records artist, Yellowcard, with Matchbox Romance. Subsequently Hedley was dropped by Capitol Records in 2007.
Hedley released their second album, Famous Last Words, on October 30, 2007. It went platinum ten days after release.[citation needed] The first single from the CD, "She's So Sorry", was released to radio on August 21, 2007. The video was shot in Toronto, Ontario, and premiered on MuchMusic on September 20, 2007.

In late 2007, the band was chosen to open for Bon Jovi on their Lost Highway Tour at their Canadian stops for 14 shows. Which forced them to postponed their own tour til early 2008, opened by State of Shock.

Famous Last Words was released on May 12, 2009 in the US with a blue cover and new name "Never Too Late". 5 songs replaced with 5 from the band's first album. Dropped by Capitol Records in 2007, Never Too Late was released by Fontana Distribution, at the time owned by Hedley's Canadian record label's parent company Universal Music.

On November 17, 2009, Hedley released their third studio album The Show Must Go. The first single "Cha-Ching" peaked at number 6 in the Canadian Hot 100.[citation needed] The second single, Don't Talk To Strangers peaked at number 11 on the Canadian Hot 100, and at number 1 on the Much Music Countdown.[citation needed] The third single "Perfect" peaked at number seven in the Canadian Hot 100, and also peaked at number one in the Much Music Countdown.[citation needed] The fourth single off the album was "Hands Up".

The band went on The Show Must Go... on the Road Tour across 38 cities in Canada in support of the new album The Show Must Go. On November 16, 2009, Chart Attack reported, "Fefe Dobson and Stereos will be along for the whole trek, while Faber Drive and Boys Like Girls will support on select dates." A live album and documentary entitled Go With the Show was recorded during this tour. Released on CD/DVD on November 9. 2010.

In 2010 the band signed an American record deal with Island Records, owned by same mega-label, Universal Music Group, as Hedley's Canadian label. The album was originally to be released in the US on October 12, but instead was released on December 7, 2010, containing the bonus tracks "I Do (Wanna Love You)" (a re-arrangement of the song "For the Nights I Can't Remember") and "Color Outside The Lines". The band also toured the US to promote the album.

The band performed Cha-Ching in a segment with other artists highlighting Canadian music at the closing ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The song was later included in the soundtrack to the closing ceremonies Sounds of Vancouver 2010: Closing Ceremony Commemorative Album.

On May 5, 2011, Hedley confirmed that they were back in the studio recording a new album. The first official single from the album, entitled, "Invincible", was released on iTunes (Canada) on August 23, 2011. The single has yet to be released on iTunes in the US. An official music video for the song was released on September 6, 2011.

The band's fourth studio album, Storms, was released on November 8, 2011. This album consists of 12 tracks (17 on the deluxe edition). A music video was released for the album's second single "One Life" on December 14, 2011.

The album sees the group experimenting with elements of pop and rock music to create their most musically diverse soundscape yet, as well as the one with most overt pop overtones. Debuting at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart (edged out only by Michael Bublé's Christmas), it is also Hedley's most successful album thus far. The album debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 23,000 copies. This was the biggest debut of the week, behind Michael Bublé's holiday album Christmas. This album marks the band's highest album chart peak. On November 23, 2011, the album was certified gold by Music Canada. Hedley won the Juno Award for Best Pop Album at the 2012 awards. The album produced two top-20 singles, "Invincible" (featuring rapper P. Reign on the single release) and "One Life". The album included the track "Beautiful" which was first released on Hedley's live album Go With the Show in 2010.

After the success of Storms, Hedley released a new single called "Kiss You Inside Out" on May 18, 2012, included in the re-release of Storms on June 5, 2012. A French version of Kiss You Inside Out featuring additional vocals by Andrée-Anne Leclerc was also made available on iTunes. Kiss You Inside Out was met with critical acclaim and netted the band their highest chart peak to date.

To promote Storms, the band went on the a 31 city Shipwrecked tour during early 2012.

On August 27, 2013, "Anything", the first single released. Followed by the video September 10, 2013. The album, entitled 'Wild Life,' was released on November 11, 2013 in Canada. Consisting of 11 tracks (15 on the deluxe version).

Hedley signed in late 2013 again with Capitol Records, now owned by Universal Music Group, the same mega-label owner of as their Canadian label. The album was released via Capitol Records in the US on May 20, 2014. The album's second single "Crazy For You", released October 22, 2013 and video released February 14, 2014. The band's album, 'Wild Life,' was released in the US on May 19th 2014.

Hedley headlined the 101st Grey Cup Halftime show at Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field in Regina, Saskatchewan on November 24, 2013. Performing a 13-minute compilation of Hands Up, Anything, Invincible and Cha-Ching.

Hedley went on a Canadian national headlining tour, Wild Live Tour, to promote the album, in February–April 2014, playing 37 cities and ending in hometown, Abbotsford, British Columbia. As well as The Studio at Webster Hall in New York on January 14 and Los Angeles at The Sayers Club on January 16.
Source: wikipedia.org
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