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When they met for their first sessions in Nashville,
King Calaway fused the clean-cut sound of boy bands with the melodic shine of adult contemporary, adding a dash of country imagery for widespread appeal. This fusion, propelled by the group's shared vocal harmonies, could be heard on their eponymous debut EP in 2019. Following their first full-length,
River, the same year, they leaned more heavily into country inspirations for 2021's
Midnight EP.
Caleb Miller, Chris Deaton,
Simon Dumas,
Jordan Harvey,
Chad Michael Jervis, and
Austin Luther first tested their chemistry in 2018. Prior to joining forces, each of the six toiled away in the music industry, some as session musicians, some as American Idol hopefuls, some in America, some in Britain. Music producer
Robert Deaton assembled the six musicians, creating
King Calaway in the process.
Deaton hired producer
Ross Copperman to shepherd the group's first EP. Featuring songs co-written by
Copperman,
Mitchell Tenpenny, and
Devin Dawson, as well as a cover of the Eagles' "Love the One You're With," the EP was released in January 2019 and received a boost from the popular Bobby Bones Show. Later that October, their full-length debut,
Rivers, expanded upon the EP. Issued on BBR/Stoney Creek Records,
Rivers reached number 48 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and cracked the Top Ten of the Heatseekers chart. They followed it up with a cover of "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" that hit the Billboard Adult Contemporary Top 20. Meanwhile,
King Calaway opened shows for the likes of
Garth Brooks and
Rascal Flatts.
Harvey left the group in mid-2020, and the remaining quintet emphasized country influences on their second EP,
Midnight. Arriving on BBR in August 2021, it included a collaboration with labelmate
Lainey Wilson ("Good Time to Me"). ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Marcy Donelson