History

Formed in 2000, Home Free has been through many changes through the years: it's members, genre, and sound have all changed drastically since its conception. Starting out as just an idea, Home Free went through all the right steps to become a well established group that had the opportunity to become successful on a global level.

Founding
Chris Rupp formed the group in 2000 in Mankato, Minnesota while a few of the members were still only in their teens, with the original members being Chris and Adam Rupp, Matt Atwood, Darren Scruggs, and Dan Lemke. When deciding on a name for the group, they took into account the help they received (often in financial support) from Atwood's grandfather, and named it after a boat of his that was called Home Free.

Chris was the main member turning songs into a cappella arrangements for the group to perform, with his brother, who had little singing experience, using his skills he learned from trumpet to learn vocal percussion.

Growth
Chris was the main member turning songs into a cappella arrangements for the group to perform, with his brother, who had little singing experience, using his skills he learned from trumpet to learn vocal percussion. Starting out as a hobby with just small shows and competitions, they stayed very close to home, but became known in the area. With Chris leading and always striving for broader horizons, even when the thought of disbanding was a prominent one many times, they kept at it.

With time and effort came experience and growth in both talent and reach, but it also came with member changes. Through the years some members had to drop out of it for other obligations or interests; after the first few had, a core group had consequently formed from three original members: the Rupp brothers, and Matt Atwood. Matt as lead tenor, Adam on percussion, and Chris leading the group by arranging songs and making important connections. Rob Lundquist would in 2008 join this core group.

Members
For lack of available documentation, it is unclear many of the former group members' roles and timelines. However, it is known that a few of those that came and went were temporary bass singers. While the group was able to go full-time on the road in 2007, playing at events, festivals, and such, they were unable to keep a bass for more than a year. Chris Foss sang as their bass in 2007, then they had Elliott Robinson between September 2008 and June 2009, and was then replaced by Troy Horne the same month. During this time, while they were back in Minnesota in 2008, they had met current member, Rob Lundquist, while he worked in a bar, and subsequently recruited him.

Not long after he joined, Troy Horne would within the year leave Home Free, leaving the bass position once again empty. It wasn't until 2010 that they had Tim Foust, a Texan songwriter looking to pursue a career in country music, sing as a guest. However, he wasn't ready to sign on full-time, and Home Free found Matthew Tuey to work with them in 2011 until Foust was able join full-time in January of 2012.