Before moving to Nashville and forming BR5-49, Chuck Mead played in a band called Homestead Grays, a roots-rock outfit based in his hometown of
Lawrence, Kansas. They assumed the name BR5-49 (from the telephone number of a used-car dealer in a running
Junior Samples comedy sketch on the television series
Hee Haw), The band's first release for the label was an
extended play entitled ''Live at Robert's
, which comprised originals and cover songs. According to the All Music Guide to Country'', BR5-49's recording of "Honky Tonk Song" on the
BR5-49 album should be considered an essential country song, although it considers neither the album itself nor the group essential. BR5-49's second album,
Big Backyard Beat Show, was released in 1998. Despite not producing a chart single, this album reached number 38 on the Top Country Albums chart. After touring with
Brian Setzer, the band issued a live album,
Coast to Coast, in 1999 on Arista, as well. The band left Arista in 2000 after the label was merged with
Sony BMG.
2001–present After being dropped from Arista, they signed to Lucky Dog Records, a subsidiary of
Epic Records. Their first release for the label, 2001's
This Is BR549, also eliminated the
hyphen from the band's name. Its only single, "Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal", peaked at number 11 on Country Singles sales, but did not enter the country singles charts proper. After this album, both Bennett and McDowell left the band, with Geoff Firebaugh succeeding McDowell as upright bassist, and
Chris Scruggs taking over on guitar and vocals. The new lineup made its first appearance in 2003 on their self-released album
Temporarily Disconnected. In 2004, they signed with
Dualtone Records and released
Tangled in the Pines. Scruggs left the band to tour solo in 2005. Firebaugh also left to start his own band, Hillbilly Casino. Mark Miller replaced Firebaugh. A second album for Dualtone,
Dog Days, was released in early 2006. Since 2013, the band has been on hiatus, with Chuck Mead working solo with Mark Miller playing bass, and Don Herron touring with
Bob Dylan. On July 12, 2012, Jay McDowell announced on his personal Facebook page that the original line-up of BR5-49 would open for
Old Crow Medicine Show at Woods Amphitheater in Nashville on July 28. On July 27, 2012, the (reunited) original lineup recorded an original Gary Bennett song called "A Truck Stop Christmas" at the East Nashville Studio of Phil Harris', which was released on the 2012 Christmas compilation
An East Nashville Christmas. On May 9, 2013, the original lineup was announced to be playing together live once again, this time at the Havelock Country Jamboree in Canada on August 17, 2013. ==Status of former members==