History[edit]

Before the band's formation, Andy Childs recorded for RCA Nashville from 1993 to 1994, releasing a self-titled debut album and charting three singles on the country charts. In addition, Steve Mandile co-wrote singles for Phil Vassar, Tim McGraw, and Shane McAnally, and previously played lead guitar in Pam Tillis' road band, Mystic Biscuit.^[2] Drummer Chuck Tilley has a jazz background. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in percussion, where he studied with noted jazz educators Steve Sample, Sr and Ray Reach. Following graduation, he worked in Birmingham, Alabama as a member of a jazz group led by Count Basie bassist Cleveland Eaton. Later, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked with Lee Greenwood and Dolly Parton. Childs had initially declined to join the band, but later reconsidered after Brett James had also declined.^[3]


Formed in 2000, the band was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2002.^[1] Their debut single, "Look at Me Now", peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart.^[4] It was included on Sixwire's self-titled debut album, which peaked at 38 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 2002.^[5] The album's only other single, "Way Too Deep", peaked at number 55. Also in 2002, Sixwire appeared on the track "It Goes Like This" from then-labelmate John Michael Montgomery's album Pictures. Mandile co-produced Nashville Star 2005 winner Erika Jo's self-titled debut album, on which Tilley also performed as a percussionist.^[6] A sixth member, keyboardist Steve Hornbeak, also joined the band's lineup.^[7]


In 2007, Sixwire auditioned for the Fox Networks reality show The Next Great American Band and finished runner-up.^[8] One year later, Sixwire served as the house band on CMT's talent show Can You Duet.