What's in a Name
"I get asked about the name all the time so here's the story behind it. Rider's Ford is actually a place. It's a low spot on the Verdigris river in NE Oklahoma that was used as a ford (river crossing) for cattle drives headed to the Coffeyville, KS stockyards. Of course, it's also associated with the outlaws that road that area like the Daltons, the Doolins, and even the James Gang. For me, it was a good place to fish, hang out with friends, camp, go noodling. In other words, Riders Ford = Good Times!" -CJ
Bio of the Band
Riders Ford is a red dirt country band that honed their sound in the honkey-tonks, rodeos, fairs, and music festivals throughout the Midwest. Named for a low water crossing on the Verdigris River in north east OK the band is as country as their namesake implies. With their nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic and awesome live shows the band has built a loyal following.
Comprised of singer/songwriter CJ Stayton, drummer Shawn Garrison, guitarist Clint Pope, bass player Justin Thompson, and multi-instrumentalist David Short, Riders Ford is a finely tuned musical machine. They have shared the stage with the likes of Sawyer Brown, Thompson Square, Restless Heart, Dylan Scott, Kevin Fowler, and many more.
Their first 10 track EP, the self-recorded “We Rage On”, produced the underground radio hit “Let’s Get Drunk & Rodeo”. In 2014 the band recorded their first full studio album “Shot in the Dark” in Stillwater, OK. The album yielded their first Top 40 hit “This Ain’t a Song” and charted two other Top 100 singles. Their debut video “The Bottle” was was lauded as a powerful story of addiction. The band was nominated for the 2014 Texas Regional Radio Report’s “New Comer of the Year” award.
2016 saw the release of their second Top 40 hit “Home to Oklahoma”, a Bob Wills inspired swing tune that brought the western back to country. “H2OK” was the precursor for their 2017 album “Second Half Life” which also yielded their third Top 40 single “Me & Hank”. It also produced the gorgeous video “Whisper Your Name” shot in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
The band is currently rumbling down the road in a classic American Eagle tour bus in support of their “Decade of Mediocrity” tour. Their current single “Natural Disaster” is climbing the charts. This powerful love song features Nashville recording artist Kensie Coppin lending her vocal talents to the duet. Contact your favorite radio or internet station and request “Natural Disaster” today!
