The War and Treaty
{{Short description|American country music duo}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The War and Treaty
| image = File:The War and Treaty performs a duet at the La Bella Vista club on Aviano Air Base, Italy, Oct. 23, 2024.jpg
| caption = The War and Treaty performing in Italy in 2024
| image_size =
| alt = Both members of The War and Treaty singing into microphones
| alias =
| origin = Albion, MI US
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 2014–present
| label = {{flatlist|
}}
| website = {{URL|thewarandtreaty.com}}
| current_members = * Michael Trotter Jr.
}}
The War and Treaty are an American husband and wife duo consisting of singer-songwriters Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-war-and-treaty-mn0003749672/biography|title=The War and Treaty Biography|website=AllMusic|first=Marcy|last=Donelson|accessdate=October 18, 2020}}{{Cite magazine|last=Bernstein|first=Jonathan|date=2020-09-18|title=The War and Treaty's Journey Toward Hope|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/war-treaty-hearts-town-interview-1059146/|access-date=2021-03-03|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} Their debut studio album Healing Tide (2018), received critical acclaim upon its release. Soon afterwards, they released their sophomore album Hearts Town (2020), which featured a collaboration with American singer Emmylou Harris, and spawned the Triple A top 40 hit single "Five More Minutes".{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Music is a matter of life, death, redemption for The War and Treaty's lead singers, Tanya and Michael Trotter |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/story/2022-10-26/music-a-matter-of-life-and-death-for-the-war-and-treatys-tanya-trotter-and-michael-trotter-jr |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}} In 2022, they signed to UMG Nashville, and released their major label debut Lover's Game (2023). Their collaboration with Zach Bryan on the song "Hey Driver" reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Duo was nominated for "Vocal Duo of the Year" for CMA Awards in 2024 and received an Emmy for their work with the Tennessee Titans in 2025.
In 2023, The War and Treaty became the first black duo to be nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Duo of the Year;{{Cite web |date=2023-10-17 |title=CMA Awards 2023: Nominees, Host and How to Watch |url=https://wwd.com/pop-culture/culture-news/cma-awards-2023-how-to-watch-1235880149/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=WWD}} along with being the first black duo to be nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for Duo of the Year.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-13 |title=Nominations Announced for the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards |url=https://www.acmcountry.com/news/nominations-announced-for-the-58th-academy-of-country-music-awards |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.acmcountry.com |language=en}} They have received two nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. An upcoming biopic based on the group’s life is set to be released.{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=2024-01-16 |title=The War and Treaty: How the Best New Artist Grammy Nominees Came to Be ‘Friends’ With the Emmys, Too, and Win Over Superfan Zach Bryan |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/war-and-treaty-grammys-best-new-artist-nominee-emmys-in-memoriam-1235874511/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-06-06 |title=Gilbert Films, Get Lifted Film Co & Harvey Mason Media Producing ‘The War And Treaty’; Numa Perrier Directing |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/the-war-and-treaty-numa-perrier-directing-1235039133/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Deadline}}
Career
In 2016, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount released the duet album Love Affair as Trotter & Blount.{{cite web|url=https://blackandmarriedwithkids.com/2013/06/power-couple-michael-tanya-trotter-blount/|title=Power Couple: Michael & Tanya Trotter (Blount)|work=Black and Married With Kids|first=Christine|last=St. Vil|date=13 June 2013|accessdate=1 April 2018}} In 2017, The War and Treaty released the EP Down to the River, described as a mix of 'blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, country' and heralded by Estey as 'a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption'.{{cite web|url=http://www.soulbounce.com/2017/07/the-war-and-treaty-down-to-the-river-video/|title=The War & Treaty "Down To The River" A Sight To Behold|work=Soul Bounce|date= July 17, 2017|accessdate=1 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/07/the-war-and-treaty-down-to-the-rivermp4.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403231339/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/07/the-war-and-treaty-down-to-the-rivermp4.html |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |title=The War & Treaty "Down To The River" A Sight To Behold|work=Paste|first=Chris |last=Estey|date= July 17, 2017|accessdate=1 April 2018}} Yet the two can sensually help heal the wounds from those confessional blasts with a sweet ballad like "Till The Mornin’" — they truly live up to the dynamic tension of their moniker.'
In 2018, Rolling Stone reported The War and Treaty's debut album Healing Tide was due for release on August 10, 2018, describing the lead single as a 'joyfully relentless title track, reminiscent of classic Ike and Tina Turner rock-infused soul'.
On September 25, 2020, The War and Treaty released its sophomore studio album, Hearts Town, on Rounder Records. On April 18, 2021, the duo joined Dierks Bentley for a performance of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards.{{cite web | url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1832840/see-all-the-performers-and-presenters-for-the-2021-academy-of-country-music-awards/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419005838/http://www.cmt.com/news/1832840/see-all-the-performers-and-presenters-for-the-2021-academy-of-country-music-awards/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 19, 2021 | title=See All the Performers and Presenters for the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards }}
The group signed a major label deal with Mercury/Universal Music Group Nashville in May 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/the-war-and-treaty-sign-umg-nashville/ | title=Husband and Wife Americana Duo the War and Treaty Sign to UMG Nashville | date=23 May 2022 }} The duo performed a cover of "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" alongside Brothers Osborne at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 9, 2022, and surprise-released its second EP Blank Page on the same day.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/cma-awards-brothers-osborne-war-and-treaty-1234627204/ | title=The War & Treaty and Brothers Osborne Cover a Rolling Stones Classic at the CMA Awards | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=10 November 2022 }} The duo’s major label debut album Lover's Game, was released on March 10, 2023.
The duo collaborated with American country star Zach Bryan on the track "Hey, Driver" from his self-titled fourth studio album. The song debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 marking the duo's first appearance on the chart.{{Cite web |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=2023-09-06 |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Sierra Ferrell & The War And Treaty Debut With Zach Bryan Features |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/hot-100-first-timers-sierra-ferrell-the-war-and-treaty-debut-zach-bryan-features-1235407419/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}
Personal lives
From 2003 to 2007, Michael Jr. served in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and served in Iraq and Germany. His highest achieved rank was Private First Class.{{Cite web |title=Michael Trotter, Jr. Collection |website=loc.gov |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.91765/ |access-date=2024-10-22}}
During his deployment, his unit was encamped in one of Saddam Hussein's private palaces, which had a piano in its basement. Michael Jr. learned how to play the instrument when his company commander, Captain Robert Scheetz, encouraged him to toy around with the piano knowing he had a passion for singing. Scheetz was killed on a mission shortly after. Michael Jr. wrote his first song in Scheetz's honor and sang it at his memorial. He then began performing at the services of other fallen soldiers.{{Cite web |title=How The War and Treaty's Michael Trotter Jr., an Iraq War Veteran, Came Full Circle on a USO Tour (Exclusive) |website=people.com |url=https://people.com/war-and-treaty-uso-tour-full-circle-moment-michael-trotter-exclusive-8425088 |access-date=2024-10-22}}
The duo performed and endorsed Kamala Harris for president on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. {{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Chris |title=Jon Bon Jovi stumps, sings two songs for Kamala Harris in NC: I'm not here to 'sling mud' |url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/11/03/jon-bon-jovi-kamala-harris-north-carolina-livin-prayer-campaign-rally/76032475007/ |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=Asbury Park Press |language=en-US}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of EPs |
| scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
|---|
| scope="row" | Down to the River{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/ca/album/down-to-the-river/1302409225|title=Down to the River by The War and Treaty on Apple Music|date=21 July 2017 |publisher=Apple Music|access-date=March 7, 2018}}
|style="font-size:12px;"|
|
| scope="row" | Blank Page{{cite web | url=https://eu.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/2022/11/10/country-music-the-war-and-treaty-cma-awards-stage-release-ep/69630700007/ | title=The War and Treaty hit CMA stage, release new EP, pursue greater country stardom }}
|style="font-size:12px;"|
|
=Singles=
==As a lead artist==
==As a featured artist==
=Other charted songs=
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name |
| scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title
! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"| Other artist(s) ! scope="col"| Album ! scope="col"| Ref. |
|---|
| scope="row"| "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"
| rowspan=3| 2023 | {{Cite news |last=Brodsky |first=Rachel |date=November 4, 2022 |title=Ashley McBryde, Maren Morris, Steve Earle, & More Cover Rolling Stones on New Tribute Album |work=Stereogum |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2204930/ashley-mcbryde-maren-morris-steve-earle-more-cover-rolling-stones-on-new-tribute-album/music/ |access-date=November 19, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| "Hey Driver" |
| scope="row"| "From a Distance"
| {{N/A}} | More than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith |
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.thewarandtreaty.com/ Official website]
- [http://www.facebook.com/thewarandtreaty The War and Treaty] on Facebook
- [http://www.twitter.com/warandtreaty The War and Treaty] on Twitter
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:War And Treaty}}
Category:American musical duos
Category:Musical groups established in 2014
Category:Mercury Records artists
Category:2014 establishments in Michigan
Category:Thirty Tigers artists