The band was founded by Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and his cousin Teddy Gentry (bass, backing vocals). They were soon joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook (lead guitar, fiddle, and keyboards). First operating under the name Wild Country, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Nashville for a record deal.
Alabama's biggest success came in the 1980s, where the band had over 27 #1 hits, seven multi-platinum albums and received numerous awards. Alabama's first single on RCA Records, "Tennessee River", began a streak of 21 #1 singles, including "Love in the First Degree" (1981), "Mountain Music" (1982), "Dixieland Delight" (1983), "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)" (1984) and "Song of the South" (1988). The band's popularity waned slightly in the 1990s although they continued to produce hit singles and multi-platinum album sales. Alabama disbanded in 2004 following a farewell tour and two albums of inspirational music but reunited in 2010 and have continued to record and tour worldwide.
Owen was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, but he was later given a clean bill of health, which led to the band's reunion, without Herndon. Following a series of tornadoes destroying homes and businesses throughout their state in 2011, Alabama assembled a benefit concert in Birmingham, called Bama Rising. Featuring the band's first set since 2004, alongside Luke Bryan, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley, the concert raised $2.1 million. "I guess we realized that maybe we missed the playing ... and five or six years had gone by and we were like, 'Maybe that wasn't as bad as we remember it being,'" said Gentry. In celebration of the group's 40th anniversary, Alabama resumed touring in 2013 for the Back to the Bowery tour, referencing the Myrtle Beach club where they first became professional musicians. They also undertook a short cruise, The Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea, which left for the Bahamas on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Pearl ship. In addition, the band released Alabama & Friends, a tribute album encompassing covers from newer artists such as Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, in addition to two new tracks by Alabama.
The band released their first new studio album in 14 years, Southern Drawl, on September 18, 2015, via BMG Chrysalis. In 2016, Alabama was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You" that celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.
In April 2017, guitarist Jeff Cook announced in a video that he would reduce the number of shows for which he would be in attendance while the band was on tour, due to his struggle with Parkinson's. He had been diagnosed four years prior, and this was his first public announcement about his condition.
In August 2021, the band sold its interest in its recorded music rights catalog to Reservoir Media. Cook died from complications of Parkinson's disease on November 7, 2022.
The band's blend of traditional country music and Southern rock combined with elements of bluegrass, folk, gospel and pop music gave it a crossover appeal that helped lead to their success. They also toured extensively and incorporated production elements such as lighting and "sets" inspired by rock concerts into their shows.
Alabama was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019 and were awarded with the first ever Life Time Achievement Award from this institution.
The members of Alabama are:
- Randy Owen (lead vocals and rhythm guitar)
- Teddy Gentry (bass guitar and backing vocals)
My Girl
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
The song "My Girl" by Alabama is a sweet love song that celebrates the joys of being in love. The opening line of the song, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day," serves as a metaphor for the happiness and warmth that love can bring, even in difficult times. The singer then goes on to describe how his love makes him feel so lucky, as though he's got everything he could ever need, and that he doesn't need money, fortune, or fame to be happy.
The second verse of the song compares the singer's love to honey and the sweetness of a bird's song in a tree. It's clear that he values his relationship with his girl above everything else in his life. The chorus repeats the catchy refrain of "my girl, my girl" and emphasizes how much joy and happiness she brings to his life. The song ends with a reprise of the opening lines, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, with my girl. I've even got the month of May, with my girl," driving home the importance of this special relationship in the singer's life.
Overall, "My Girl" is a timeless love song that captures the intoxicating feeling of falling in love and the joy that comes with being in a relationship with someone you truly care about.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
I am happy even on a day when things seem gloomy and grey.
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
Even when it's winter and everything seems lifeless, I feel warm and alive inside.
I guess you'd say
You might say
What can make me feel this way?
What could possibly bring such joy and happiness into my life?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
The love of my life, my girlfriend (or wife).
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I'm telling you all about her and how much I treasure her.
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I am blessed with an abundance of goodness, like having more honey than the bees themselves!
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
I have a more beautiful melody in my heart than the birds do when singing.
Hey hey hey
Just a lighthearted vocalization of joy or enthusiasm.
Ooh
Expressing something pleasurable or exciting.
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I don't require wealth or recognition to be happy, as long as I have my girl in my life.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I've got everything I could ever ask for by having her, which is more valuable than any amount of money or possessions.
With my girl
Together with the love of my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ronald White, William Robinson Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kimberly Bittner
on Carolina Mountain Dewe
Why would you put this one to show, when I made a video to it on u-tube.. This dosen't tell the story to the song I have loved for over 30 tears..