Jerry Tipton - Bass
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Jeremy Tipton - Lead Singer
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JD Shoemaker - Drums
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Justin Tipton - Rhythm
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Steve Lovell - Lead Guitar
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Continuing in the traditions started four generations ago, The Tiptons are proud of the tight family harmonies combined with a true country background that they share. They seek to bring back the timeless sounds of groups such as Alabama, Diamond Rio, Blackhawk, Etc... While still keeping up with the new direction country music has taken.
The Tiptons feel these great artists are becoming a dying breed and that today's talent is trying more to showcase individuals. This group has devoted their time and talents trying to preserve the tight harmonies and family values of the great groups of the past while gaining a steady fan base.
The Tiptons feel these great artists are becoming a dying breed and that today's talent is trying more to showcase individuals. This group has devoted their time and talents trying to preserve the tight harmonies and family values of the great groups of the past while gaining a steady fan base.
RED DIRT NATION article
The Tiptons: A family in harmony
By Peter Addison
September 28, 2016
TULSA - The Tiptons live by a motto: family, harmony, and tradition. Currently based out of Claremore, OK, the five-piece family band strives to keep tradition alive by paying homage to their earliest influences with a modern twist and personal, reflective storytelling.
The Tiptons' musical origins can be traced back four generations:
"My great grandpa started it," Jeremy Tipton said. "From there, it went to my grandpa. He sang in a lot of gospel quartets."
Jeremy spoke about his memories as a child listening to his dad, uncle and grandfather sitting around and singing, making harmonies. The Tiptons had always been drawn to gospel and country harmony groups.
At one point, Jeremy's grandfather sang in a gospel quartet who played alongside The Oak Ridge Boys in their early days, when they were still known as The Oak Ridge Quartet.
"When you think of Tipton, you think of vocals," Jeremy said. "That's just who we are. That's our legacy. That's Tipton."
In 2013, The Tiptons, as a band, first began to take shape. Initially, Jeremy (lead vocals/acoustic guitar) and his uncle Justin (rhythm guitar/mandolin/vocals) worked together as an acoustic duo, playing small gigs around the Tulsa area. One day Jeremy's father, Jerry (bass/vocals), came over to listen in on a jam session.
"Dad joined in and we started trying these three-part harmonies," Jeremy said. "We thought it sounded awesome. After that, we started looking for a drummer and guitar player."
That was when JD Shoemaker (drums/vocals) and Steve Lovell (lead guitar/vocals) entered the picture. Shoemaker, who had played in several bands with Justin over the years, introduced the rest of the Tiptons to Lovell.
Although the entirety of The Tiptons may not be blood related, they still consider themselves family.
"We have adopted JD and Steve into the Tipton family," Jeremy said. "We are all brothers and are very proud to call each other that."
With a full ensemble in place, The Tiptons set to work with a common goal in mind — to resurrect the vocal band.
"When I was younger, Alabama was my inspiration because of the harmonies," Jerry said. "Now it seems like those groups are disappearing. We want to bring back the harmony group so that tradition doesn't fade away. We're doing three-four-five part harmony on some songs."
The Tiptons want to share their fresh take on the traditional sound they and so many others admire.
The Tiptons first full-length album was recorder at yellow Dog Studios in Wimberley, Texas under the guidance of Dave Percefull. Yellow Dog Studios is renowned as one of the premier studios in Texas, having produced red dirt giants like Jason Boland, Cody Canada, Randy Rogers, Stoney LaRue, and countless others.