ALABAMA

In 1980, the country music became the most hot and happening. The discotheques changed décor their overnight from pop to country dance clubs. The people also started loving the cowboy look. RCA Records had country's first platinum-selling album with "Wanted: The Outlaws." On August 18, 1980, Alabama's first

RCA single "Tennessee River" achieved #1 status. This date started Alabama's unparalleled and still unequaled back-to-back release of 21 #1 hit records, 42 number one singles and over 65 million records sold. The band went on to win the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade title for the 1980's and became the first group to ever be named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year. Their acceptance in the country music forever changed the way the country bands were accepted in the country format. The band that started in 1969 emerged out as a blend of contemporary and traditional country along with southern rock. Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook and Mark Herndon are also known for their charitable endeavors. Cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry since their childhood spent much of their time entertaining themselves by singing and playing gospel music. Another cousin, Jeff Cook had been playing ukulele and performing at school functions and by the time he reached his teens he'd progressed to guitar, keyboards and fiddle. The three cousins started a band called Young Country. By 1972 the band had added friend Bennett Vartanian as the drummer and was calling itself Wild Country. Bennett Vartanian was afterwards replaced by Mark Herndon. Alabama’s music was broad based, attracting a huge fan following of varied ethnic backgrounds and musical tastes.

Alabama began to change the way the industry looked at bands. The debut album on RCA was title "My Home's In Alabama," and every song released from it became a #1 hit and after that there was no looking back. Alabama concerts became immediate sellouts. Because of Alabama’s impact on the country music more and more new listeners were being attracted to country. Their approach to country music attracted fans of all ages. Alabama has received over 150 industry awards including 8 country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, 2 Grammys, 2 Peoples Choice Awards and their very own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame.” They were named the “Artist of the Decade” by the Academy of Country Music in 1989 and “Country Group of the Century” by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1999. Alabama also received the Bob Hope, Minnie Pearl and Country Radio Broadcasters’ Humanitarian Awards and the B.M.I. President’s Trophy for their public service contributions. Alabama has also been the recipient of 23 American Music Awards since 1983, including their prestigious Award of Merit. In 1990 Alabama released "Jukebox In My Mind," which became the biggest chart record they've had to date. In May 2002, Alabama announced their plans for a Farewell Tour in 2003. The Alabama “American Farewell Tour” consisted of at least 40 cities from coast to coast was a celebration of the band’s storied career. In conjunction with the Farewell Tour was the release of Alabama’s 24th album on RCA. Titled, In The Mood: The Love Songs.  

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