The Wilkinsons

The Wilkinsons
The Wilkinsons - consisting of Amanda Wilkinson (left), her brother Tyler (middle) and their father Steve.
Background information
Origin	Trenton, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Country
Years active	1998–2009
Labels	Giant Warner Bros. Nashville BNA Open Road Fontana North Angeline
Associated acts	Motion Picture Ending Small Town Pistols
Website	www.wilkinsonsonline.net
Past members	Amanda Wilkinson Steve Wilkinson Tyler Wilkinson

The Wilkinsons was a Canadian country music trio from Trenton, Ontario. Founded in 1997, the group consisted of lead singer Amanda Wilkinson, her brother Tyler Wilkinson, and their father, Steve Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons achieved success late in 1998 with the hit single "26 Cents", a Number One on the Canadian country music charts and Top 5 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts. It was followed by "Fly (The Angel Song)", also a No. 1 in Canada. A second album, Here and Now, produced the group's last American top 40 hit in "Jimmy's Got a Girlfriend". Afterward, the trio recorded three more albums, one of which was not released, and a Greatest Hits package.

Steve Wilkinson was born on August 18, 1955 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Before the country trio was formed, he was struggling financially after he lost his job at a nuclear power plant due to downsizing. He took menial jobs in order to provide for his family, but his real passion was music. They signed to Giant Records in 1998.

The Wilkinsons' first album, Nothing But Love, reached No. 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts in 1998. The trio have been nominated for the Country Music Association's Horizon Award and Vocal Group of the Year and for Single of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards. Their second album, Here and Now, won the Canadian Country Music Association award for Best Album. The band has received nine Canadian Country Music Awards, one Juno Award and two Grammy nominations (both for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group).