Alabama

Formed 1977 in Fort Payne, AL Disbanded 2003

Group Members:
Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Mark Herndon, Randy Owen, Rick Scott

Before Alabama, bands were usually relegated to a supporting role in country music. In the first part of the century, bands were popular with audiences across the country, but as recordings became available, nearly every popular recording artist was a vocalist, not a group. Alabama was the group that made country bands popular again. Emerging in the late '70s, the band had roots in both country and rock; in fact, many of Alabama's musical concepts, particularly the idea of a performing band, owed more to rock and pop than hardcore country. However, there is no denying that Alabama is a country band — the bandmembers' pop instincts may come from rock, but their harmonies, songwriting, and approach are indebted to country, particularly the Bakersfield sound of Merle Haggard, bluegrass, and the sound of Nashville pop. A sleek, country-rock sound made the group the most popular country group in history, selling more records than any other artist of the '80s and earning stacks of awards.

Discography:

Album
2003 The Farewell Tour
2002 Christmas
2001 When It All Goes South
2000 Alabama for the Record
1999 Twentieth Century
1997 Dancin' on the Boulevard
1996 Christmas, Vol. 2
1995 In Pictures
1993 Gonna Have a Party...Live
1993 Cheap Seats
1992 American Pride
1990 Pass It on Down
1989 Tennessee Christmas
1989 Southern Star
1988 Live
1987 Just Us
1986 The Touch
1985 40 Hour Week
1985 Alabama Christmas
1984 Roll On
1983 The Closer You Get...
1982 Mountain Music
1982 Stars
1981 Feels So Right
1980 Alabama