Mason Dixon (band)
Encyclopedia
Mason Dixon was an American
country music
trio
, composed of Frank Gilligan (vocals, bass), Jerry Dengler (guitar, banjo) Rick Henderson (guitar). The band played frequently within the Texas nightclub scene for several years and went on to tour the U.S. and Canada for several more.
, released in 1983, was a cover of "Every Breath You Take
" by The Police
. The group was the first act to have a Top 40 Country Billboard
single on an independent record label
in the 1980s, with the release of "3935 West End Avenue" in 1987. They signed a recording contract
with Capitol Nashville
in 1988, who released their fifth studio album, Exception to the Rule. Its title track was their most successful single, reaching the Top 40 of the Billboard
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
chart and #63 on the RPM
Country Tracks chart in Canada. Henderson left the group in 1989, to be replaced by Terry "Caz" Casburn (vocals, bass). A second album for Capitol, Reach for It, was completed but never released. Rick Henderson, one of the founding members of the group died in mid December 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, composed of Frank Gilligan (vocals, bass), Jerry Dengler (guitar, banjo) Rick Henderson (guitar). The band played frequently within the Texas nightclub scene for several years and went on to tour the U.S. and Canada for several more.
Career
The group's first singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, released in 1983, was a cover of "Every Breath You Take
Every Breath You Take
"Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers . The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks and the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It also topped the...
" by The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
. The group was the first act to have a Top 40 Country Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
single on an independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
in the 1980s, with the release of "3935 West End Avenue" in 1987. They signed a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Capitol Nashville
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
in 1988, who released their fifth studio album, Exception to the Rule. Its title track was their most successful single, reaching the Top 40 of the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Country Singles & Tracks
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart and #63 on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
Country Tracks chart in Canada. Henderson left the group in 1989, to be replaced by Terry "Caz" Casburn (vocals, bass). A second album for Capitol, Reach for It, was completed but never released. Rick Henderson, one of the founding members of the group died in mid December 2009.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Spirit of Texas | NLT Records |
| 1985 | Only A Dream Away | Texas |
| 1987 | Homegrown | Premier 1 |
| 1988 | Exception to the Rule | Capitol |
| 1990 | Reach for It |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country | |||
| 1983 | "Every Breath You Take Every Breath You Take "Every Breath You Take" is a song by The Police on the band's 1983 album Synchronicity, written by Sting and Andy Summers . The single was one of the biggest hits of 1983, topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for eight weeks and the UK Singles Chart for four weeks. It also topped the... " |
69 | — | Only A Dream Away |
| "Mason Dixon Lines" | — | — | ||
| 1984 | "I Never Had a Chance with You" | 51 | — | |
| "Gettin' Over You" | 49 | — | ||
| 1985 | "Only a Dream Away" | 47 | — | |
| "Houston Heartache" | 76 | — | The Spirit of Texas | |
| 1986 | "Got My Heart Set on You" | 72 | — | single only |
| "Home Grown" | 53 | — | Homegrown | |
| 1987 | "3935 West End Avenue" | 39 | — | |
| "Don't Say No Tonight" | 51 | — | ||
| 1988 | "Dangerous Road" | 62 | — | Exception to the Rule |
| "When Karen Comes Around" | 49 | — | ||
| 1989 | "Exception to the Rule" | 35 | 63 | |
| "A Mountain Ago" | 52 | — |