:Ambush (band)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Ambush

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| origin = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

| genre = Country

| years_active = {{start date|1993}}–present

| label = Chancellor Music, Longshot Records, 306 Records

| website = {{URL|getambushed.com}}

| current_members = Mark McDonell
Kris Lafontaine
Danny Derue

| past_members = Jef Leeson
Glenn Desjardines
Skip Layton
Jim Wright
Riq Turner
Tommy VanCoughnett
Dan Killen

}}

Ambush is a Canadian country music group, formed in 1993, and based in Ottawa.

Biography

The original line-up (from 1993 to 1999) consisted of Skip Layton (drums), Jef Leeson (bass guitar and lead vocals) and Mark McDonell (guitar and vocals).{{Cite web|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/ambush_f4|title=Ambush discography|website=RateYourMusic.com}} They met while working as the back-up band for Ottawa singer Dennis Whitty,{{cite web |title=Dennis Whitty |url=http://www.ottawacountrymusichof.org/inductees/denniswhitty.htm |website=ottawacountrymusichof.org |publisher=Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame |access-date=19 November 2021}} and derived the name Ambush from the name of Whitty's backing band, 'Bushwacker'.

This line-up recorded three albums of cover songs: On Stage in 1993,{{cite web |title=Ambush - On Stage |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/3735961-Ambush-On-Stage |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=30 January 2022}} Hard to Say No in 1994,{{cite web |title=Ambush - Hard to Say No |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/8564775-Ambush-Hard-To-Say-No |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=30 January 2022}} and Kickin' Up a Fuss in 1995.{{cite web |title=Ambush - Kickin' Up A Fuss! |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/8564804-Ambush-Kickin-Up-A-Fuss |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=30 January 2022}} All were produced by Leeson and released on his independent label Chancellor Music.{{Cite web|url=http://chanmus.jefleeson.com/catalog/backcatalog.php|title=Chancellor Music official website|last=|first=|date=|website=Chanmus.jefleeson.com|publisher=|access-date=January 28, 2018}}

Through 1996, they recorded their first CD of original music in Nashville, with producer-writer Cyril Rawson.{{cite web |title=Cyril Rawson |url=https://ptbopathwayoffame.ca/inductee/cyril-rawson/ |website=ptbopathwayoffame.ca |publisher=Peterborough Pathway of Fame |access-date=19 November 2021}} The CD, Ambush,{{cite web |title=Ambush - Ambush |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15877801-Ambush-Ambush |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=30 January 2022}} yielded modest regional hits with "Since She Got Back From Texas"{{cite web |title=Ambush |url=https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=8uiP7HEpd8o&list=RDAMVM9fSK5Goztes |website=music.youtube.com |publisher=YouTube Music |access-date=19 November 2021}} and "Girls Like That".{{cite web |title=Ambush |url=https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=KBINUSLLvOE&list=RDAMVMt1lTZRhQAN4 |website=music.youtube.com |publisher=YouTube Music |access-date=19 November 2021}}

In 1997, a 3-track CD featuring the songs "Let's Go Crazy Girl",{{cite web |title=Ambush |url=https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei9reqGYKWo&list=RDAMVM4aNqZ70WuvQ |website=music.youtube.com |publisher=YouTube Music |access-date=19 November 2021}} "Since She Got Back From Texas" and "Don't Let It Hit You on the Way Out"{{cite web |title=Ambush |url=https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=9uZTW6LqAJ4&list=RDAMVM5IqpM39em1A |website=music.youtube.com |publisher=YouTube Music |access-date=19 November 2021}} (all originally from their 1996 debut CD) was released, which included new vocals and remixes by Chad Irschick at Inception Sound Studios in Toronto.{{cite web |title=Chad Irschick |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/422565-Chad-Irschick |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=19 November 2021}}

Leeson left the band in November 1999 to pursue a solo career.{{Cite web|url=http://www.jefleeson.com/|title=Jef Leeson|website=Jefleeson.com}} He was replaced by Glenn Desjardine who, in November 2001, was replaced by Riq Turner. Riq departed in 2014, and was replaced by Kris Lafontaine. Skip Layton departed in October 2005; he was replaced by Jim Wright. Wright left the band in October 2011; he was replaced by Tom VanCoughnett. VanCoughnett departed in 2015; Dan Killen joined the band as a touring/session member until 2016, when he was replaced by Danny Derue. In 2002, Ambush signed with Longshot Records.

In 2006 Ambush won the CMT reality series Plucked.{{cite web |title=Ambush Picked as Top Country Band |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20061115/282686157727189 |via=PressReader |publisher=Toronto Star, PressReader |access-date=19 November 2021}} They shot videos for their songs "This Could Be The Night" and "In This Room" during the series.{{cite web |title=This Could Be The Night (Ambush) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFNWBBhnh2Y |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=19 November 2021}}{{cite web |title=Ambush Unplugged at the Lone Star |url=https://www.cfrc.ca/ambush_unplugged_at_the_lone_star |website=CFRC 101.9fm |access-date=20 November 2021 |date=27 June 2018}}

In 2006, the band released a studio album entitled I Wanna Go Home With You.{{cite web |title=Ambush – I Wanna Go Home With You |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15680516-Ambush-I-Wanna-Go-Home-With-You |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=19 November 2021}} This album included singles such as "This Could Be The Night", "Too Hot For Words"{{cite web |title=Ambush - Too Hot For Words |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUH7vaiCoA0 |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=30 January 2022}} and "Anything To Rock You".{{cite web |title=Ambush-Anything to Rock You |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpdo1IQr3Kg |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=30 January 2022}}

At the 2007 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA Awards), the band was nominated as Group of the Year.{{cite web |title=Canadian Country Music Awards Nominees Released |url=https://nationtalk.ca/story/canadian-country-music-awards-nominees-released |website=nationtalk.ca |publisher=NationTalk |access-date=19 November 2021}} They received the same nomination in 2008.{{cite web |title=Ambush |url=https://members.ccma.org/cgi/page.cgi/past_award_winners.html?meta_nominee=Ambush&meta_category=Group+or+Duo+of+the+Year&meta_year=&meta_year=&type=award§ion_id=1&log=do_search_form |website=members.ccma.org |publisher=Canadian Country Music Awards |access-date=19 November 2021}} At the latter ceremony, the "In This Room" video was nominated as Video of the Year.{{cite web |title=Ambush Nominations |url=https://members.ccma.org/cgi/page.cgi/past_award_winners.html?meta_nominee=Ambush&meta_category=Video+of+the+Year&meta_year=&meta_year=&type=award§ion_id=1&log=do_search_form |website=members.ccma.org |publisher=Canadian Country Music Association |access-date=19 November 2021}}

Ambush has released seven live albums, most recently in 2016, with Ambush Live Off the Floor.{{cite web |title=Ambus - Live Off the Floor |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15916251-Ambush-Ambush-Live-Off-The-Floor |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=30 January 2022}} They last toured in 2019, traveling to the UK to play the Tokyo World Festival{{cite web |title=Tokyo World Festival |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/tokyo-world-festival-saturday-ticket-2019 |website=concertarchives.org |publisher=Concert Archives |access-date=30 January 2022}} and the Wireless Festival.{{cite web |title=Wireless Festival 2019 |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/wireless-festival-2019 |website=concertarchives.org |publisher=Concert Archives |access-date=30 January 2022}} As of 2021, the band remains active.

Discography

Albums

On Stage (1993), Chancellor
Hard to Say No (1994), Chancellor
Kickin' Up a Fuss (1995), Chancellor
Ambush (1996), Chancellor
Live (2002), Independent
Ambush Live II (2003), Longshot Records
I Wanna Go Home with You (2006), Independent
Ambush Live: Three (2007), Longshot Records
Live 4 (2008), Longshot Records
Ambush (2009), 306 Records
Ambush Classics (2009), Longshot Records
Ambush Live in Cuba (2013), Longshot Records
Ambush For Kidz! (2014), Longshot Records
Ambush Christmas (2016), Longshot Records
Ambush Live Off the Floor (2016), Longshot Records

EPs

Let's Go Crazy (1997), Chancellor

Singles

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year ! style="width:18em;"\| Single ! Album
1995 ! scope="row"\| "Since She Got Back from Texas" \| rowspan="2"\| Ambush (1995)
1996 ! scope="row"\| "Girls Like That"
2000 ! scope="row"\| "Don't Give Up" \| {{n/a}}
2003 ! scope="row"\| "Till You" \| rowspan="5"\| I Wanna Go Home with You
rowspan="2"\| 2005 ! scope="row"\| "Party Like a Rock Star"
scope="row"\| "This Could Be the Night"
rowspan="2"\| 2006 ! scope="row"\| "I Wanna Go Home with You"
scope="row"\| "Anything to Rock You"
2007 ! scope="row"\| "In This Room" \| rowspan="7"\| Ambush (2009)
rowspan="2"\| 2008 ! scope="row"\| "Wasn't That a Party"
scope="row"\| "Drive"
rowspan="2"\| 2009 ! scope="row"\| "She Doesn't Come Close"
scope="row"\| "Small Town"
rowspan="2"\| 2010 ! scope="row"\| "Take My Picture"
scope="row"\| "My Little Girl"
2013 ! scope="row"\| "Daddy Come Home" \| rowspan="3" {{n/a}}
2014 ! scope="row"\| "Summertime Crazy"
2015 ! scope="row"\| "Little Big Man"

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year

! style="width:18em;"| Single

! Album

1995

! scope="row"| "Since She Got Back from Texas"

| rowspan="2"| Ambush (1995)

1996

! scope="row"| "Girls Like That"

2000

! scope="row"| "Don't Give Up"

| {{n/a}}

2003

! scope="row"| "Till You"

| rowspan="5"| I Wanna Go Home with You

rowspan="2"| 2005

! scope="row"| "Party Like a Rock Star"

scope="row"| "This Could Be the Night"

rowspan="2"| 2006

! scope="row"| "I Wanna Go Home with You"

scope="row"| "Anything to Rock You"

2007

! scope="row"| "In This Room"

| rowspan="7"| Ambush (2009)

rowspan="2"| 2008

! scope="row"| "Wasn't That a Party"

scope="row"| "Drive"

rowspan="2"| 2009

! scope="row"| "She Doesn't Come Close"

scope="row"| "Small Town"

rowspan="2"| 2010

! scope="row"| "Take My Picture"

scope="row"| "My Little Girl"

2013

! scope="row"| "Daddy Come Home"

| rowspan="3" {{n/a}}

2014

! scope="row"| "Summertime Crazy"

2015

! scope="row"| "Little Big Man"

=Music videos=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Year ! style="width:18em;"\| Video
2006 ! scope="row"\| "This Could Be the Night"
2007 ! scope="row"\| "In This Room"
2009 ! scope="row"\| "She Doesn't Come Close"
2017 ! scope="row"\| "Top of the World"{{cite web \|title=Top Of The World - Ambush \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8HV4VHjTj8 \|website=youtube.com \|publisher=YouTube \|access-date=30 January 2022}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Year

! style="width:18em;"| Video

2006

! scope="row"| "This Could Be the Night"

2007

! scope="row"| "In This Room"

2009

! scope="row"| "She Doesn't Come Close"

2017

! scope="row"| "Top of the World"{{cite web |title=Top Of The World - Ambush |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8HV4VHjTj8 |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=30 January 2022}}

Achievements

Champions of the CMT reality series Plucked (2006)

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
Year ! Association ! Category ! Result{{CN\|date=January 2024}}
2006 \| rowspan="5"\| Canadian Country Music Association \| Independent Group or Duo of the Year{{citation needed\|date=November 2021}} \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\| 2007 \| Group or Duo of the Year \| {{nom}}
Independent Group or Duo of the Year \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2"\| 2008 \| Group or Duo of the Year \| {{nom}}
CMT Video of the Year – "In This Room" \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Association

! Category

! Result{{CN|date=January 2024}}

2006

| rowspan="5"| Canadian Country Music Association

| Independent Group or Duo of the Year{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2"| 2007

| Group or Duo of the Year

| {{nom}}