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)
Southern Star
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And show me the way to get home
Well I'm blue-collar branded, and stuck in a mill
Hard work is a way of life for me
Well I'm too young to live like I'm over the hill
And too old to be wild and free
My heart is onward bound I'm rolling with the feeling and I can't slow down
Oh southern star, how I wish you would shine
And show me the way to get home
Oh, hey my DJ friend, would you play me one more song
And let my mind just go and drift away
Now we all have a dream and a place where we belong
Somewhere we can go and escape
My heart is onward bound I'm rolling with the feeling and I can't slow down
I need a guiding light shining down to lead me through the night
Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine
And show me the way to get home
Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine
And show me the way to get home
In this song, Alabama sings about being lost and trying to find their way back home. The southern star is used metaphorically to represent hope and guidance, and the lyrics express a desire for it to shine and lead them back to where they belong. The singer of the song is described as a blue-collar worker, stuck in a mill and living a life of hard work. However, despite feeling limited by their circumstances, they are still young enough to dream of something more and find a place where they can escape.
The lyrics also touch on the power of music to transport and uplift the spirit. The singer asks their DJ friend to play one more song and take them away from their current situation. There is a universal appeal to this sentiment - we all have times when we need to escape reality and find solace in music.
Overall, the song's message is one of hope and perseverance, even in difficult circumstances. Alabama's vocals and harmonies give the song an uplifting and anthemic quality, making it a popular choice for anyone feeling lost or trapped.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine
The singer is feeling lost and wishes for guidance from something bigger than themselves.
And show me the way to get home
They are looking for direction and a sense of belonging in their life.
Well I'm blue-collar branded, and stuck in a mill
The singer is part of the working class and is trapped in a job that is physically or emotionally taxing.
Hard work is a way of life for me
They have become accustomed to the demanding nature of their work and accept it as an inherent part of their identity.
Well I'm too young to live like I'm over the hill
The artist feels like they are missing out on youth and excitement due to their demanding lifestyle.
And too old to be wild and free
At the same time, they feel like they are missing out on a sense of maturity or stability in their life.
My heart is onward bound I'm rolling with the feeling and I can't slow down
Despite feeling stuck, the singer is determined to keep moving forward and find a sense of fulfillment in life. They are restless and unable to stand still for too long.
I need a guiding light shining down to lead me through the night
The artist is searching for a sense of direction and purpose in their life, but feels lost without outside guidance.
Oh, hey my DJ friend, would you play me one more song
The artist is seeking escapism through music and distraction from their everyday struggles.
And let my mind just go and drift away
They hope that music will provide a brief respite from their anxiety and stress.
Now we all have a dream and a place where we belong
The singer believes that everyone has a sense of purpose and belonging, but they are struggling to find theirs.
Somewhere we can go and escape
They are searching for a place or purpose that will relieve them of their feelings of being lost and stuck in life.
Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine
The singer reiterates their search for guidance and a sense of direction.
And show me the way to get home
They believe that once they find their purpose or direction in life, they will finally feel a sense of belonging and be able to return to a sense of 'home'.
Oh, southern star, how I wish you would shine
The singer concludes by repeating and emphasizing their desire for guidance and purpose from a higher power.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICH ALVES, ROGER MURRAH, STEVE DEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kevin haymes
These guys are all nice folks in person, made such a contribution to REAL country music. They were like the Beatles of country for so many years. Funny, they listened to the Beatles a lot. God bless these fellas !!!!!!! The real deal !!!!!!!β€οΈβοΈππ»
Just Another Hoosier
Absolutely!
luvcofi
They were and are still the best country group
Joe Jones
The Best!
Jimmy Johnson
@Gayle Schaefer its not even close. They are number 1
Robert Ahart
@Gayle Schaefer who do you think is the best?
Gayle Schaefer
They're great, but not the best.
walter langston
this song was playing in my head when I woke upthis morning
Just Another Hoosier
That's a good thing! : )
Greg Rowe
"I'm too young to live like I'm over the hill and too old to be wild and free.'' I can relate to that every day.