Confederate Railroad was founded in 1987 by Danny Shirley, Michael Lamb, Gates Nichols (May 26, 1944 – August 14, 2009),[3] Chris McDaniel, Wayne Secrest (April 29, 1950 – June 2, 2018),[4] and Mark Dufresne.
[7] In order of release, these singles were "She Took It Like a Man," "Jesus and Mama," "Queen of Memphis," (their highest chart peak, at no.
Also in 1994, Shirley and Mark Collie co-wrote and sang guest vocals on Billy Ray Cyrus's "Redneck Heaven," an album cut from his 1994 disc Storm in the Heartland.
After another compilation titled Rockin' Country Party Pack (which produced another chart single in "Toss a Little Bone," previously from When and Where), the band exited Atlantic.
In cancelling their planned performance at the Ulster County Fair, organizers said the event must represent "the values of all members of our community" and that "showcasing of a symbol of division and racism runs counter to that principle."
Critics say that the Confederate flag is a racist symbol, representing a war to continue slavery and racial segregation in the United States.
The governor's office said that state resources could not be used "to promote symbols of racism," specifying the Confederate flag in the group's logo.
Described vocally as a "gruff, reliable twanger,"[14] lead singer Danny Shirley cites outlaw country acts such as Waylon Jennings as his major influence.
A reviewer for New Country magazine wrote that they are "one of the few bands who can pull off a song about how they prefer trashy women and sound like they really mean it.
Those on Notorious, for instance, were described by New Country magazine as "show[ing] men left stunned and confused by a world that changed faster than they could follow.
"[15] Lead guitarist Michael Lamb, one of the group's original members, left in the mid 1990s and was replaced with Jimmy Dormire.
[5] McCarver has released a solo album, although he continued to tour as a member of Confederate Railroad up until his last performance with them at the Putnam County Fair in Eleanor, West Virginia, on July 16, 2010.
Dormire was subsequently replaced by Rusty Hendrix, former side man for Mark Wills and Sammy Kershaw.
Gates Nichols retired from Confederate Railroad in December 2008, and in July of the following year, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
He continued on with Confederate Railroad until he decided to depart the band December 2021 to be closer to his family and focus on his faith.
Cody McCarver released a self-titled solo album for the Aspirion label in 2006, which produced the singles "Red Flag" and "Through God's Eyes."
His 2010 single "White Trash With Money" was written by fellow band member Shirley along with songwriter Buck Moore.