Blackberry Smoke

Blackberry Smoke

Blackberry Smoke are an Atlanta, United States-based rock band formed in 2000. Their sound is rooted in southern rock and rock, with country rock and blues rock also associated with the group.

Line-up

The core line-up includes lead vocalist and lead guitarist Charlie Starr, lead and rhythm guitarist Paul Jackson, bassist Richard Turner and keyboardist Brandon Still. Brit Turner is listed as a member and co-founder; he dies in March 2024 after a battle with glioblastoma. Drumming duties on tour are covered by Atlanta drummer Kent Aberle. Touring members added in 2018 include guitarist Benji Shanks and percussionist Preston Holcomb, although Holcomb retires from touring in spring 2024.

Releases and chart success

The band begins recording with Bad Luck Ain't No Crime, their debut album, in 2003. Their second album, Little Piece of Dixie, appears in 2009. The third album, The Whippoorwill, is released in 2012 on Southern Ground and becomes their first chart breakthrough, reaching the Billboard 200 Top 40.

In 2015, Holding All the Roses, produced by Brendan O'Brien, reaches number one on Billboard's Country Albums chart. It makes them the first small independent outfit to take an album to number one on that chart, and the first independently released artist to reach number one on the Billboard Country Album chart in modern history. In 2016, Like an Arrow, which features Gregg Allman, is issued on their own 3 Legged Records and also reaches number one on the US Billboard Country and Americana/Folk charts, as well as the UK Rock and Independent Albums charts in its release week.

Find A Light follows in 2018. In 2019, the band releases the live album and film Homecoming: Live in Atlanta through Earache Records, recorded at their annual Brothers And Sisters Holiday Homecoming event at the Tabernacle in Atlanta in November 2018. In 2021, You Hear Georgia is released via 3 Legged Records and is produced by Dave Cobb; it features Jamey Johnson and Warren Haynes and debuts at number one on the Billboard Americana/Folk chart.

Activity and collaborations

Blackberry Smoke perform across the United States, Europe, Australia and South America. They appear with artists including Guns N' Roses, Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tedeschi Trucks Band. They also perform at a 2012 charity benefit with the cast of Sons of Anarchy and the Boot Campaign, and appear in a 2014 Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute show at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta alongside Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Warren Haynes, Peter Frampton and Gregg Allman. In 2016, they tour with Gov't Mule.