Big House
Bakersfield, California, United States
1994—2000, 2007—present
MCA Nashville, Dead Reckoning, Big House
Monty Byrom
David Neuhauser
Chuck Seaton
Tanner Byrom
Ron Mitchell
Billy Russell
Benny Rappa
Steve Vines
Joe Cruz
Sonny California (deceased)
Biography[edit]
Although its six members (all natives of Bakersfield, California) had all performed together in various lineups, Big House was not officially formed until 1995, when brothers Monty and Tanner Byrom first performed with four other musicians at a venue in Oildale, California.[1][2] After realizing that they all seemed to work well together, the six musicians decided to form a band. Monty Byrom, who had previously penned hit singles for Eddie Money,[2] assumed the role of lead vocalist and guitarist, while Tanner served as drummer; the other four original members included harmonica player Roy Lackey (who assumed the stage name Sonny California),[2] bass guitarist Ron Mitchell, and guitarists David Neuhauser, Billy Russell and Chuck Seaton.[1]
Major-label debut[edit]
Throughout the 1990s, Big House played throughout their native state of California. They had also tried to make themselves known in Nashville, Tennessee. Big House was not well received by Nashville until Neuhauser suggested that the band submit a demo tape to Tony Brown, president of MCA Nashville Records.[1] A demo tape was sent to the label, and by 1997, the re-tooled demo tape was issued as the band's debut album, also titled Big House.[1][3][4] Three of the album's singles entered the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including "Cold Outside", which peaked at No. 30.[2] A second album, entitled Travelin' Kind, followed one year later; its lone single, "Faith", peaked at No. 63.
In 1998, the Academy of Country Music nominated Big House for the Top New Vocal Group or Duo award, alongside The Kinleys and The Lynns, losing to The Kinleys.
Membership changes and disbanding[edit]
After the release of their second album, however, most of Big House's members parted ways; Tanner Byrom, Ron Mitchell and Chuck Seaton returned home and joined with Billy Russell to form the band "Hot Taco". See: https://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/blues-in-bakersfield/article_5c234d97-9041-5920-aacc-02377b7041ca.html[2] Monty Byrom and Neuhauser then recruited Benny Rappa and Steve Vines, who took over on bass guitar and drums, respectively. The four-piece lineup recorded one album, Woodstock Nation, which was issued in 2000 on Dead Reckoning Records, an independent label owned by songwriters Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch.[5] Big House disbanded shortly afterward. The six original members reunited in 2007 and 2008 for concerts in Bakersfield at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace,[6] and released a fourth album in 2008, Never Ending Train.[7] In April 2017, Sonny California died in Las Vegas following a brief illness. [8]