A pair of local musicians has gone from the barroom to the bigtime in just five months, stepping out of the local scene andjoining an up-and-coming country band making waves on thecharts.

Brookhaven’s Topher Brown and Loyd Star’s Brett Hart are the newmembers of The Band Perry, a brothers and sister trio from Mobile,Ala., that is winning hearts in the country music world and isnominated for a Country Music Association award. Since joining thepopular trio on May 1, Brown, a 27-year-old guitarist, and Hart,the 22-year-old drummer, have been put to work playing beforethousands from coast-to-coast, touring with established countrysuperstars like Keith Urban, Brooks and Dunn and LadyAntebellum.

“We are definitely on the front lines right now,” Brownsaid.

The Band Perry’s most popular single, “If I Die Young,” hasreached No. 18 on the Billboard country music charts, and thesong’s music video is in rotation on country music channels CountryMusic Television and Great American Country. Its other single, “Hipto my Heart,” also climbed into the Top 20.

The young band has also been nominated for a CMA award for VocalGroup of the Year, competing for the title against Rascal Flatts,Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and the Zac Brown Band. The 44thannual CMAs will air on ABC on Nov. 10.

While the Lincoln County natives joined The Band Perry too lateto take part in recording the band’s first EP – a self-titledcompilation scheduled for release Oct. 12 – they will be providingrhythm for its fall tour with Alan Jackson and Chris Young.

When The Band Perry opens for Alan Jackson this fall, Brown andHart will have come a long, long way in their music careers. Thecountry is starting to know them as for their work with the Perrys,but Brookhaven already knows them for their membership in TheColonels.

Brown has known Kimberly Perry since for about 10 years, sinceshe was a solo act playing acoustic sets, through his friendshipwith local Christian rock musician Boone Daughdrill, a member ofDecembeRadio. Daughdrill once played drums for Perry, and throughthe acquaintance Brown began doing guitar tech work for her.

In 2005, the Perry brothers joined their sister and formed TheBand Perry, taking to the road. They signed with record labelRepublic Nashville in 2009 and suddenly needed supporting musiciansfor the band.

“They wanted someone they knew, someone they were comfortablewith, so they called me up,” Brown said. “When the drummer they hadfell through, I made the suggestion of getting Brett. They broughthim on a couple of times, they dug it and the rest is history.”

Brown and Hart described The Band Perry as a mix of folk-countryrock – Kimberly Perry says her group is a cross between The RollingStones and Loretta Lynn. The increasingly popular “If I Die Young”is a soft and breezy tune in the bluegrass spirit, but the bandalso likes to rock, often covering classic rock tunes like theStones’ “Honky Tonk Women” and Janice Joplin’s “Bobby McGee,”penned by Kris Kristofferson.

The Perry siblings are skilled on multiple instruments, and withBrown and Hart accompanying, the band can call on guitar, mandolin,accordion, fiddle, banjo, bass guitar and percussion. Brownswitches between a Fender American Deluxe Telecaster and a 1973Gibson Les Paul, the latter instrument given to him by his father,local rocker Ricky Brown. Hart pounds a DW Classic drum set, butwill soon switch to a custom built set furnished by ShineDrums.

The band’s versatility is far removed from the steady rock Brownand Hart once played at home.

“It’s taken me to a whole new level I didn’t even know wasthere,” Hart said.

Since The Band Perry has taken its new members to a new level,those members hope to reciprocate.

“The whole experience makes me want to be a better musician allthe time. I’m constantly looking for ways to hone my craft,” Brownsaid. “You don’t see a lot playing with local bands – you’re notseeing the cream of the crop. Playing in The Band Perry, you see alot of seasoned musicians that make you feel like a kid up there.It’s intimidating sometimes, but it’s also inspiring.”

With the CMA nomination – voted on by industry professionals andthose on the sharp edge of modern country music – others seem to beinspired, too.

“Getting that nomination means people are noticing,” Hart said.”It’s humbling to me to know people are listening, watching theshows. I feel unbelievably blessed.”

Country music fans can find out everything they want to knowabout The Band Perry online by visiting www.thebandperry.com orsearching the band on MySpace, Facebook and YouTube.