The band has an unusual name. Most anyone from Alabama would immediately realize that “red clay” describes much of the state’s soil—a down-to-earth description.
“Strays?” They haven’t yet strayed far from their Alabama roots and musical heritage. That is about to change. Starting this week, the Red Clay Strays will stray onto the national scene.
The first stop is the release of a new single, “Wanna Be Loved,” on Wednesday, May 22.
Next, the "Tonight Show" with host Jimmy Fallon. Set your schedule for 10:34 p.m. Thursday on NBC. It will be right after your local nightly news if you still watch it.
Other high-profile stops on their stray include:
The Rolling Stones concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, will open on May 30.
Three sold-out concerts at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
A new recording deal with RCA Records.
A new album with famed producer Dave Cobb.
This sudden burst of energy follows a performance closer to home. The Red Clay Strays played at a “Live at Five” concert in Fairhope, Alabama. Locals who went may soon be able to say, “I saw them before they were famous.” Like Mobile people who saw Jimmy Buffett play at the corner bar in the downtown Admiral Semmes Hotel in the early 1970s—before “Come Monday.”
Alabama folks who did not go may wish they had.
You can find more information on the Strays and their accelerating journey on their Facebook page or at their website here.
Just who and what are the Red Clay Strays? The short version is that they are a country rock band formed in Mobile and recorded in Huntsville.
They are best known for their 2022 single "Wondering Why," released in late 2023 after going viral on the social media platform TikTok. It became their first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 71.
In November 2019, they released the single "Good Godly Woman," which was included in the soundtrack of the film "Doctor Sleep." They followed with the singles "No Way to Know" and "Will the Lord Remember Me?" in 2020.
In April 2022, the group recorded their debut studio album, Moment of Truth, in Huntsville. They self-released the album, which did not see much commercial success but has stayed around.
In August 2023, they released their first live EP as part of media platform Western AF's YouTube series "Live AF."
They are now on an impressive tour itinerary as they stray across the USA. They also have performances in England, Ireland and France.
The Red Clay Strays are straying internationally.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama. He writes about Alabama people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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