Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Artist Profile - Alabama

Best known for hits like "Love In the First Degree" and "Christmas In Dixie", Alabama are a legendary southern rock band from Fort Payne, Alabama. 

Band members from left to right: Jeff Cook, Randy Owen, Mark Herndon (no longer in line-up), and Teddy Gentry


The band, originally named Wildcountry, was formed in 1969 by lead singer Randy Owen, his cousin Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook. After exploring the music scene in South Carolina, they became well-known on the national stage. Alabama is often credited with bringing southern country rock into the mainstream, and really making it more accessible for cross-over appeal. They were putting together elaborate stage shows much earlier than most country artists and have amassed an impressive amount of records. They have over 30 #1 country hits in the U.S. and have sold over 73 million records to date.

Alabama received their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and collaborated with teen pop group *NSYNC to release "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You" in 1999. They were inducted into the country music hall of fame in 2005 and recently reunited in 2011.

This is their current official website - Official Band Website

Monday, July 2, 2012

Top Ten on this day in...1968 (U.S.)

On this day 44 years ago, these were the hit songs that were taking the radio waves by storm in the U.S.

Starting from number 10:


#10... "Reach Out Of the Darkness" by Friend and Lover




















#9... "Here Comes the Judge" by Shorty Long

 

















#8... "Think" by Aretha Franklin

 
















#7... "Angel of the Morning" by Merrilee Rush & the Turnabouts

 
















#6... "Mony Mony" by Tommy James and the Shondells

 

















#5... "The Look of Love" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66




















#4... "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by Ohio Express




















 #3... "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris




















#2... "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles & Co




















Drumroll please...this was the top song in the U.S. on this date in 1968! 

#1... "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alpert