The Abrams

{{Short description|Canadian country band}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = The Abrams

| image = The Abrams Brothers at CFC Annual BBQ 2012.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = The Abrams Brothers at the Toronto International Film Festival, Canadian Film Centre Annual BBQ 2012

| origin = Kingston, Ontario, Canada

| genre = Country, bluegrass, folk

| years_active =

| label = Warner Music

| website = {{URL|http://www.theabramsmusic.com/}}

| current_members = John Abrams
James Abrams

| past_members =

}}

The Abrams (formerly The Abrams Brothers) are a Canadian country band composed of fourth-generation musicians John Abrams and James Abrams. They have performed with acts such as John Hammond,{{cite web |title=John Hammond, March 2012 |url=https://hughsroomlive.com/event/john-hammond-4/ |website=hughsroomlive.com |publisher=Hugh's Room Live |access-date=8 January 2022}} Feist, Dean Brody, The Chicks, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Luke Combs.

Biography

The Abrams have been performing together since John was 11 and James was 9.{{cite web|url=http://www.cashboxcanada.ca/2010/abrams-brothers-bluegrass-%E2%80%98newgrass%E2%80%99|title=The Abrams Brothers: From Bluegrass to 'Newgrass'|work=Cashbox Canada|accessdate=9 July 2012|archive-date=19 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919041759/http://cashboxcanada.ca/2010/abrams-brothers-bluegrass-%E2%80%98newgrass%E2%80%99|url-status=dead}} In 2005, the group was named Emerging Artist of the Year at the Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/abrams_brothers/bio.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704034333/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/abrams_brothers/bio.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2010|title=CMT: The Abrams Brothers|accessdate=9 July 2012}} In 2006, they received the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin.{{cite web|url=http://theabramsbrothers.com/band/|title=The Abrams Brothers Biography|accessdate=9 July 2012}} The Abrams Brothers at age 12 and 15, were the youngest Canadian duo to play the esteemed Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Abrams released a Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie tribute album entitled Blue On Brown in 2009."The Abrams Brothers", The Toronto Star, 12 March 2009 Arlo Guthrie responded to the record by saying the band was "way too young to be playing that good. I know I will be hearing from The Abrams Brothers for a long time to come."{{cite web|url=http://www.swks-liveonstage.org/2012-2013/AbramsBrothers.html|title=Live On Stage: The Abrams Brothers|accessdate=9 July 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130416014712/http://www.swks-liveonstage.org/2012-2013/AbramsBrothers.html|archivedate=16 April 2013}}

The band released their first album of original material Northern Redemption in 2011 on Fontana North/United For Opportunity. The album was produced by Canadian singer-songwriter/producer Chris Brown formerly of The Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, whose credits include The Barenaked Ladies, Ani DiFranco, and Tony Scherr.

The Abrams have been involved in many community service projects in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, including the Robinson Community Garden, which supplies the local Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, and Martha's Table.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewhig.com/2012/07/02/sowing-the-seeds-of-community-spirit|title=Sowing the seeds of community spirit|work=The Kingston Whig-Standard|accessdate=9 July 2012}} In spring 2012 they launched the Musicville Ontario initiative, in which they donated $1000 to a local music education charity.{{cite web|url=http://www.kingstonthisweek.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3532005|title=The Abrams Brothers back music education|work=Kingston This Week|accessdate=9 July 2012}}

The Abrams released their major label debut EP on May 20, 2016, via Warner Music Canada. The EP was produced by Gavin Brown at Noble Street Studios in Toronto, Ontario. The first single from the album, "Fine" was released April of that year.{{Cite web|url = http://www.warnermusic.ca/artists/the-abrams/|title = The Abrams {{!}} Warner Music Canada|website = Warner Music Canada|access-date = 2016-04-08}} The album earned the band a CMAO win for Roots Artist/Group of the Year.

On May 15, 2019, The Abrams released a brand new single, "Sounds Good To Me," produced by Matt Rovey, who has worked with Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson. A new collection of music will be released later in 2019.

Members

  • John Abrams – vocals, guitar
  • James Abrams – vocals, violin

Discography

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = The Abrams

| Image =

| Caption =

| Alt =

| Studio = 4

| Compilation =

| Music videos = 6

| Soundtrack =

| Live = 7

| EP = 1

| Singles = 5

}}

=Albums=

==Studio albums==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:24em;"|Title

!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"|Album details

scope="row"| Carrying On

|

  • Released: 2004
  • Label: MasterShield
  • Format: CD
scope="row"| Iron Sharpens Iron

|

  • Released: 2006
  • Label: MasterShield
  • Format: CD
scope="row"| Blue On Brown

|

  • Released: July 22, 2008
  • Label: United For Opportunity
  • Format: CD
scope="row"| Northern Redemption

|

Extended plays

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:24em;"|Title

!scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:19em;"|Album details

scope="row"| The Abrams

|

scope="row"| Reminder

|

  • Released: September 20, 2019
  • Label: Warner Music
  • Label: CD Digital download, streaming

Singles

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! rowspan="1" style="width:20em;" | Title

! rowspan="1" style="width:1em;" | Year

! rowspan="1" style="width:5em;" | Album

scope="row"| "Mermaid Town"

| 2010

| {{n/a|Non-album single}}

scope="row"| Fine

|rowspan=2| 2016

|rowspan=3|The Abrams

scope="row"| Spend Your Life With Me
scope="row"| Champion

| 2017

scope="row"| Sounds Good To Me

| 2019

| Reminder

Music videos

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

!scope="col" style="width:18em;"|Title

!scope="col" style="width:3em;"|Year

!scope="col" style="width:18em;"|Album

scope="row"| Viva la Vida

| 2009

| Northern Redemption

scope="row"| Mermaid Town

| 2010

| {{N/A}}

scope="row"| Northern Redemption

| 2012

| Northern Redemption

scope="row"| Fine

| rowspan=2|2016

| rowspan=3|The Abrams

scope="row"| Champion
scope="row"| Spend Your Life With Me

| 2017

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
YearAwardCategoryNominee/WorkResultRef
rowspan=3|2017rowspan=3|CMAO AwardsRoots Artist or Group of the Yearrowspan=3|The Abrams{{won}}rowspan=3|{{cite web|title=Nominees announced for 2017 CMAO Awards hosted in London|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3371414/nominees-announced-for-2017-cmao-awards-hosted-in-london/|website=AM980|accessdate=12 June 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|title=CMAO Awards - Winners! - Country 101.1|url=http://www.country1011.com/2017/06/12/cmao-awards-full-list-winners/|website=Country 101.1|accessdate=12 June 2017|date=12 June 2017}}
Group or Duo of the Year{{nom}}
Rising Star Award{{nom}}
2023

|Country Music Association of Ontario

| Roots Artist or Group of the Year

| The Abrams

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://frontporchmusic.ca/cmaontario-awards-nominees-winners/ |title=2023 CMAOntario Awards: Celebrating the Best Country Music In Ontario |date=March 27, 2023|work=Front Porch Music|access-date=April 17, 2023}}

References