Cross Canadian Ragweed - History

History

After forming in Yukon, Oklahoma, they moved to the college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, where acts like Mike McClure's The Great Divide and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave had established enough of a local scene to earn Stillwater the nickname North Austin.

The group had already received significant college radio airplay before it released its first album, Carney in 1998. They soon released Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon in 1999 and Highway 377 in 2001, all on their own independent label Underground Sound.

In 2002 they released a self-titled album also known as "the purple album" due to its cover color, which is a tribute to the band's "little sister" "Mandy Ragsdale". http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2003/06/19/AggieLife/Ccr-Remembers.Local.Hospitality.After.Wreck-513925.shtml. who had recently died in an auto accident.

Their 2004 offering Soul Gravy debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Country charts. In October 2005, the band released their album Garage featuring the single "Fightin' For," which became their first top 40 hit on the country charts, debuting at an impressive No. 45 and reaching No. 39, as well as "Dimebag," a tribute to Darrell Abbott. The band released a double live CD and DVD on October 31, 2006, Back to Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom. Cross Canadian Ragweed recorded Mission California, their sixth studio album, at the end of March 2007. They spent 25 days in the studio; the first 5 cutting 15 tracks, the next 20 polishing each. It was recorded in San Diego, California. Lee Ann Womack laid down background vocals on 4 of the tracks to include the Chris Knight cover "Cry Lonely." Mission California was released on October 2, 2007. Ragweed's tenth album, Happiness and All the Other Things was released on August 31, 2009, commemorating the band's 15th Anniversary. It includes 12 new studio tracks and 3 live tracks. Recorded in California, this album includes a track entitled "Blue Bonnets" which is dedicated to Cody's oldest son Dierks. Happiness and All the Other Things was officially dedicated to the late Randall "Poodie" Locke (Willie Nelson's long-time stage manager) who died on May 6, 2009.

In May 2010, Cross Canadian Ragweed announced a hiatus from touring. In a band press release, drummer Randy Ragsdale's explained, "Right now, I need to be at home for my family, particularly my son JC, who has autism. He's 10 years old now and still struggling in his development. I feel the only way I can help him is to be more hands on and close to home." Despite Ragsdale's insistence to supporting the band wanting to “get another drummer and press on," singer Cody Canada stated "We’ve always said from the start, we’re Ragweed as the four of us, or not Ragweed at all."

In September 2010, singer Cody Canada officially announced the band was calling it quits by announcing their "Last Call Show" in October, 2010 at Joe's Bar in Chicago, IL, stating "as far as that’s concerned, Oct 24 is the last one, the last gig.”

March 2012, in an interview with Dallas Observer writer Kelly Dearmore, Cody Canada revealed that the breakup of Cross Canadian Ragweed was based on more than just Ragsdale's need to be with his family. Implying that tension with guitarist Grady Cross was also a factor. Stating "We just wanted to protect the name of the band." and "There was one person who wasn't happy from an artistic or business perspective."

Since Cross Canadian Ragweed, singer Cody Canada and bassist Jeremy Plato formed The Departed with fellow Yukon-native Dave Bowen (drums), Seth James (guitar), and Steve Littleton (keyboards), releasing their debut album in June, 2011. Randy Ragsdale and Grady Cross both returned to Yukon, OK, and Ragsdale tours with Stoney Larue as of December 2011. Cross purchased and operates the bar that was the very first venue Cross Canadian Ragweed performed in 1994.