American Authors is an American rock band based in New York City currently signed to Island Records.[2] It currently consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Zac Barnett, lead guitarist and banjoist James Adam Shelley, bassist Dave Rublin, and drummer Matt Sanchez. They are best known for their hit singles "Believer" and "Best Day of My Life" from their debut album Oh, What a Life, as well as their Top 20 hit, "Go Big or Go Home", from their second album, What We Live For.

Contents 1 History 1.1 2006–11: Early years 1.2 2012–present: Name change, Mercury Records, American Authors, and Oh, What a Life 2 Festivals, concerts and other events 3 Discography 4 Band members 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History 2006–11: Early years

The members of American Authors met each other while attending Berklee College of Music in 2006.[3] The quartet spent their first years in Boston recording and performing music under the name the Blue Pages and recorded Surrounded by Wolves, Bear Fight, Night Hawke, Anthropology and Rich With Love. In May 2010 the band opened up for Cash Cash on the Robots in High-Tops tour.[4][5] In 2010, the band relocated to Brooklyn. On December 1, 2010, the Blue Pages independently released their single "Run Back Home" on iTunes.[6]

2012–present: Name change, Mercury Records, American Authors, and Oh, What a Life

In 2012, the group changed their name to American Authors.[7] In January 2013, the band was signed to Mercury Records.[8] Their debut single, "Believer," garnered attention through alternative rock radio.[9] Their second single, "Best Day of My Life", was featured in, among other things, a Lowe's television advertisement in the United States, a Hyundai television advertisement in the United Kingdom, an advertisement in South Africa for Castle Lager,[10] a Telecom New Zealand advertisement,[11] a trailer for the film Delivery Man, Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, the Konami video game, the opening sequence for ESPN's 2013 World Series of Poker coverage, a trailer for the film Earth to Echo, a trailer for the film How to Train Your Dragon 2, the film Humpback Whales, and a trailer for the film St. Vincent. The song is also featured in the video game "Guitar Hero Live".[12] The song was also used in an advert for Centerparcs in the UK. The song won the newly established Sync Music Award at the SESAC Pop Awards 2015.[13][14] Their song "Go Big or Go Home" was featured in NBA videos showing highlights from the 2015 playoffs.

Singer Barnett at Highfield Festival 2014

American Authors released their self-titled debut EP on August 27, 2013.[15] Their song "Hit It" is featured on EA Sports game, FIFA 14.[7] Their song "Best Day of My Life" was used in an MLB Fan Cave commercial and is the title music of Sky Sports News' My Special Day feature. It has also been featured in a television spot for the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, in an episode of the television show The Vampire Diaries and in 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series championships.[16] The song was ranked number one on Billboard's chart of Adult Pop Songs for 2014.[17] Their song "Home" was featured in a movie trailer for the movie This Is Where I Leave You and in a video honoring troops and their families.[18] In 2013, American Authors won Overall Grand Prize in the 18th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with their song "Believer". The group was number nine on Billboard's chart of Top New Artists for 2014.[19] In July 2015, the band was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally where they performed live their single "Best Day of My Life". From 2016 to 2017 they worked on their second album “What We Live For”.

In 2018, the band appeared in the Bar Rescue episode "Not Clear for Takeoff" when they did recon for The Airliner, and also performed at the bar's grand re-opening.

Festivals, concerts and other events

The group has appeared at various music festivals, concerts and other events, including: Lollapalooza,[20] SXSW Music Festival,[21] Firefly Music Festival,[22] Reading Festival,[23] Leeds Festival,[24] Bunbury Music Festival,[25] Freakfest,[26] Grammys on the Hill (an awards ceremony honoring artists and legislators who have improved the environment for music creators),[27] BottleRock Napa Valley,[28] Keloorah, Pukkelpop, and Polartec Big Air at Fenway.[29] As well as the 2017 run of Vans Warped Tour, and opening the 2016 Walmart shareholders concert.

Discography Main article: American Authors discography Studio albums Oh, What a Life (2014) What We Live For (2016) Band members Zac Barnett – lead vocals, guitar (2006–present) James Adam Shelley – lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, banjo, mandolin (2006–present) Dave Rublin – bass, backing vocals, keyboards (2006–present) Matt Sanchez – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2006–present)

Barnett grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Shelley grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, Rublin grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, and Sanchez grew up in San Antonio, Texas.[30][31]

See also List of alternative rock artists List of Berklee College of Music alumni List of Mercury Records artists Alternative music portalBoston portalNew York City portal References ^ "The Blue Pages". Myspace. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ "Island Records". Island Records. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-04.  ^ "American Authors Interview". Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.  ^ "Robots in High-Tops Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ "Feel Forever Young With Cash Cash On The Robots In High-Tops Tour". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ "Run Back Home - Single". iTunes. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ a b "Round Hill Music". Roundhillmusic.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.  ^ "American Authors sign to Mercury Records". Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.  ^ "A-Sides with Jon Chattman: Tres! American Authors, Hunter Valentine, and Clementine & The Galaxy". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ "Castle Lager". Castlelager.co.za. Retrieved February 13, 2015.  ^ YouTube. Youtube.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ "Guitar Hero". Guitar.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.  ^ "SESAC". Sesac.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.  ^ "SESAC". Musichistorian.net. Retrieved May 15, 2015.  ^ "AMERICAN AUTHORS, We're releasing our debut EP in August!". Weareamericanauthors.com. Retrieved October 26, 2015.  ^ "Red Sox". Retrieved November 28, 2014.  ^ "Adult Pop Songs". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.  ^ "Honoring our troops". Youtube.com. Retrieved November 28, 2014.  ^ "Top New Artists". Billboard.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.  ^ "Lollapalooza". Suntimes.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "SXSW". Vh1.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Firefly". Vh1.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Reading". Youtube.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Leeds". Leedsfestival.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Bunbury". Bunburyfestival.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Freakfest". Host.madison.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Grammys on the Hill". Grammy.org. Retrieved April 28, 2015.  ^ "BottleRock". Pressdemocrat.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.  ^ "Pukkelpop". Pukkelpop.be. Retrieved December 14, 2014.  ^ "Interview". Charged.fm. Retrieved November 27, 2014.  ^ "Minnetonka". Americansongwriter.com. Retrieved November 27, 2014.  External links Official website December 2014 American Authors interview on Guitar.com vteAmerican Authors Zac Barnett James Adam Shelley Dave Rublin Matt Sanchez Studio albums Oh, What a Life What We Live For Singles "Believer" "Best Day of My Life" "Trouble" "Luck" "In a Big Country" "Go Big or Go Home" "Pride" "What We Live For" "I'm Born to Run" Related articles Mercury