With the release of their fifth album, Home, through Fontana
North Distribution on March 20th, The Wilkinsons have truly
returned to their roots. The release, which is the first they
have recorded since moving back to their hometown of Belleville,
Ontario from Nashville reflects a band that is at their creative
peak.
The
award-winning trio’s solid lyrics, soaring vocals and
tight harmonies remain intact, but the record, which was recorded
throughout one of the most hectic periods in the band’s
career, has a warm, settled feel. All three Wilkinsons (father
Steve and siblings Amanda and Tyler) contributed to the songwriting
and song selection on the album and the family’s dedication
to crafting solid, memorable tracks is highly apparent.
From
the 1998 release of their first album, Nothing But Love, which
launched them to success with the single “26 Cents,”
through to Home’s 2007 release, The Wilkinsons have
established themselves as one of the premiere artists in Canadian
country music. They have had number one songs on country radio
both inCanada and the U.S., as well as number one videos on
CMT and GAC. The trio received nominations for the CMA’s
Horizon Award and Vocal Group of the Year in 2000, as well
as a nomination for Single of the Year from The Academy of
Country Music Awards. They have twice been nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group
and have a Juno win and four nominations under their collective
belts.
The
2000 release of Here and Now, their second album, won the
trio accolades with the Canadian Country Music Association
for best album. The single "Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend,"
featuring Tyler on vocals, was another huge success for the
band who went on to release the album Shine in 2001 and then
Highway in the spring of 2005.
With
the debut of their CMT Canada television show, The Wilkinsons,
in 2006 the band showed that their talent goes far beyond
their music. The series, which is a hybrid of comedy, reality
and improv, features the rest of The Wilkinsons family –
mother Chris and youngest daughter Kiaya – and proved
so popular that CMT Canada renewed it for a second season,
which debuts on March 7th.
The
television show’s second season chronicles the recording
of Home, which took place during the launch of Amanda’s
solo career (her debut solo album on Universal South was released
in September 2005) and amidst settling into the family’s
newly built home. Tyler has also been working on solo projects
alongside this release. Produced by Steve Wilkinson and Russ
Zavitson, Home features the band’s cover of Bonnie Raitt’s
song, “Papa Come Quick,” which has been generating
strong airplay at radio across Canada, along with several
songs penned by The Wilkinsons. A late summer/fall tour is
planned to support the release.
 Born August
18, 1955 in Belleville, Ontario, Steve’s interest in
music started when he bought his first guitar at age 13. He
grew up loving the music of Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Johnny
Cash, as well as The Beatles, Paul Simon and James Taylor.
A self taught guitarist and songwriter, he claims that it’s
his second love, music, that won his first love -- his wife,
Christine. It was because of her support that he found the
courage to move the family to Nashville. That move resulted
in international number ones, gold albums, Grammy® recognition,
multiple Canadian awards and a hit CMT television series.
 Amanda Wilkinson
was born January 17, 1982 in Belleville, Ontario and was raised
in Trenton, Ontario. Her passion for singing began early.
She recalls being inspired by her dad Steve performing in
bands, and his singing to her when she was very young, instilling
in her a love of music. As a toddler, Amanda listened to Dolly
Parton, Patsy Cline and Etta James and at the age of three,
made her first public appearance with her dad at her grandma
and grandpa’s 25th anniversary. Amanda and her dad kept
singing together. Amanda has recently gone solo and her self-titled
debut album has garnered numerous award nominations and critical
praise since its release.
 Brown-haired,
blue-eyed Tyler was born into his musical family on April
30, 1984. He learned to play the guitar and the art of writing
songs from his father. When he was 13, Tyler and his family
moved to Nashville, Tennessee so that his father could concentrate
on songwriting. After only three weeks in Music City, the
Wilkinson family signed their first record deal with Giant
Records. In addition to all things musical, Tyler loves scuba
diving, football and honing his skills as the front man for
his rock band, Motion Picture Ending. Even with all the fame,
he remains modest; Tyler says he just wants “to do my
best at anything I do and not limit myself.”
 Traveling
with her husband and her three children on the road can be
a challenge, but Chris is supportive and almost always patient.
The Wilkinsons series is Chris’ first venture into the
limelight but she is already well aware of the insanity of
celebrity. The road has taken her to Nashville and around
the world and finally back to her roots in small-town Ontario.
All the while, she has been the backbone and good heart of
the Wilkinsons.
 As the youngest
Wilkinson, 17-year-old Kiaya has spent most of her life in
Nashville and considers it home, so she was more than a little
hesitant to move back to small-town Ontario. Up to now, Kiaya
had been home-schooled to accommodate The Wilkinsons’
tour schedules, but now she must tackle the strange world
of rural high school on her own.
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