The Fray

The Fray is an American rock band that formed in Denver, Colorado, in 2002. The initial lineup consisted of Isaac Slade on vocals and piano, Joe King on guitar and vocals, Dave Welsh on lead guitar, and Ben Wysocki on drums. The band's origins can be traced to the members' involvement in the worship music scene at their local churches and Christian school. A chance meeting between former schoolmates Slade and King at a music store led to jam sessions and the beginning of their songwriting partnership. They were soon joined by Wysocki and Welsh, who were former bandmates of Slade.

Early EPs and Breakthrough Success

In their early years, The Fray released two EPs, "Movement EP" in 2002 and "Reason EP" in 2003. The "Reason EP," produced by Aaron Johnson, gained them local recognition and a "Best New Band" award from Denver's Westword magazine. After struggling to get airplay, their demo for the song "Cable Car" was picked up by a local radio station, KTCL. This growing buzz led to a record deal with Epic Records in 2004.

How to Save a Life (2005)

The Fray's debut album, "How to Save a Life," was released in September 2005 and became a massive commercial success. The album's first single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)," reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, it was the title track, "How to Save a Life," that propelled the band to international stardom. The song became a top-five hit in numerous countries and was certified quintuple platinum in the United States. The album itself achieved quadruple-platinum status in the U.S.

Subsequent Albums and Musical Style

The band's sophomore album, the self-titled "The Fray," was released in 2009 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured the hit single "You Found Me," which also became a top-ten hit in the U.S. and Australia. Their following albums, "Scars & Stories" (2012) and "Helios" (2014), continued to perform well on the charts. The band's musical style is often described as piano-driven pop-rock or alternative rock, with heartfelt and emotional lyrics.

Recent Years and Lineup Change

In 2016, The Fray released a greatest hits album, "Through the Years: The Best of the Fray." After a hiatus, lead singer and co-founder Isaac Slade announced his departure from the band in March 2022. The remaining members, Joe King, Dave Welsh, and Ben Wysocki, decided to continue as a trio, with King taking over lead vocal duties. In 2024, The Fray released a new single, "Time Well Wasted," followed by the EP "The Fray Is Back."