The Lost Trailers
The Lost Trailers are an American country music band. Established in 2000, the band originally comprised Ryder Lee (lead vocals, keyboards), Manny Medina (guitar), Andrew Nielson (bass guitar), Stokes Nielson (vocals, lead guitar), and Jeff Potter (drums). Originally known as Stokes Nielson and the Lost Trailers, the band made its debut at a Fourth of July picnic held by country singer Willie Nelson. That year, the Lost Trailers self-released its debut album "Story of the New Age Cowboy", followed in 2002 by "Trailer Trash", followed by 2004's "Welcome to the Woods" on Universal/Republic. After  switching to BNA Records in 2006, the band issued a self-titled effort, which produced the singles "Call Me Crazy" and "Why Me", both of which entered the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts. A fifth album, "Holler Back", was released in August 2008, producing a top ten country hit in its title track and a top 20 in "How 'Bout You Don't". In 2011, singer/songwriter Jason Wyatt joined Stokes Nielson, launching a re-establishment of the Lost Trailers. This re-established group released the single "Underdog" with the record label HRT Records & Productions, and then released "American Beauty . Lead singer Jason Wyatt announced he was departing the duo in April 2014 to focus on a solo career. In the summer of 2014, the Lost Trailers set out on their summer tour, featuring Stokes Nielson, along with longtime fixture/guitar-slinger Charles Longoria, bassist Jimmy Lykens and Jeff Dane on vocals. History. Stokes Nielson and Ryder Lee began writing and producing music together in Albany, Georgia. Their first album together was the self-issued The Story of the New Age Cowboy" in 2000. Initially, Ryder and Stokes worked with a bass guitarist and a drummer, forming a group known  as Stokes Nielson & the Lost Trailers (later shortened to The Lost Trailers). The name was derived from the fact that the band's equipment trailers had been stolen on three separate occasions. At the time, Stokes Nielson was also working as a disc jockey for a radio station in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2000, after an on-air interview with Willie Nelson, Stokes offered him a demo version of the Lost Trailers' material. Nelson then offered the band an opportunity to play at a Fourth of July picnic, which he held annually in Texas. Stokes took to the role of lead  singer, while Ryder played keyboards and provided backing vocals. Eventually, the band's membership was later finalized with Lee on keyboards, Stokes' younger brother, Andrew, on bass guitar, Jeff Potter on drums, and Manny Medina on bass guitar. The band then gained a following throughout the Southeast and Texas, performing more than 200 shows yearly. First albums. In 2002, the Lost Trailers recorded their second album, entitled "Trailer Trash". A third album, "Welcome to the Woods", followed two years later on Universal/Republic Records, although its singles failed to chart. Record producer Blake Chancey, who has worked with the Dixie  Chicks and Waylon Jennings, saw the band perform at a concert in Fort Worth, Texas, and offered to work with them. Renee Bell, a talent executive for BNA Records, had also seen the Lost Trailers perform at another concert. She then recommended the band to the label's president, and the Lost Trailers were signed to a recording contract with BNA in 2006. At this point, Lee took over the role of lead vocalist. Their first chart single, "Chicken Fried", was released in early 2006, peaking at number 53 on the Hot Country Songs charts. This single was withdrawn because  Zac Brown, who wrote the song, had a clause in the licensing contract that they were not allowed to release the song as a single, which they did, and he wanted to record the song himself. Brown ultimately recorded the song as a member of the Zac Brown Band, whose rendition was a number one hit in late 2008. Despite the cease and desist, the band continued to occasionally perform "Chicken Fried" live, as recently as 2012.<ref>