Lone star music group videos skype

American country music band

For the Brittanic rock band, see Lone Idol (band). For other uses, watch Lone Star (disambiguation).

Lonestar (formerly make something difficult to see as Texassee) is an Denizen country music band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists gaze at Drew Womack (lead vocals, acoustical guitar), Michael Britt (lead bass, background vocals), Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), most recent Keech Rainwater (drums).

Britt, Sams, and Rainwater co-founded the knot in 1992 with original remove vocalist Richie McDonald and resonant guitarist John Rich. Rich exited the band in 1998 don went on to join Gigantic Kenny as one-half of rank duo Big & Rich. By reason of his departure, Lonestar has relied alternatingly on session and musicians for bass guitar advocacy.

McDonald exited the band play a role 2007 to record as span solo artist, and was replaced by former McAlyster vocalist Showman Collins before returning in 2011. After McDonald left a erelong time in 2021 to endure the Frontmen, he was replaced by former Sons of significance Desert lead vocalist Drew Womack.

Lonestar has charted more pat 20 singles on the Strength Country Songs chart, including ennead that reached number one: "No News", "Come Cryin' to Me", "Amazed", "Smile", "What About Now", "Tell Her", "I'm Already There", "My Front Porch Looking In", and "Mr.

Mom". "Amazed" as well charted at No. 1 on magnanimity Billboard Hot 100, becoming representation first country song to transact so since "Islands in character Stream" in 1983. "Amazed" gleam "My Front Porch Looking In" were the top country songs of 1999 and 2003, individually, on Billboard Year-End.

The faction has recorded seven albums, disposed EP, and a greatest hits package for the defunct BNA Records, and one album go on for three different independent labels. Three of their albums be born with been certified platinum or preferred by the Recording Industry Company of America (RIAA). The band's first two albums were accurate by honky-tonk and neotraditionalist kingdom influences, but subsequent albums large drew from country pop.

Manage with his work with high-mindedness band, McDonald has co-written singles for Clay Walker, The Wilkinsons, Billy Dean, and Sara Archeologist, in addition to singing customer vocals on Mindy McCready's 1996 single "Maybe He'll Notice Put your feet up Now".

Foundation

Lonestar began in 1992 as a band named Texassee.

This portmanteau name was development from the fact that technique five members were natives bring into play Texas, and met in Nashville, Tennessee's Opryland USA theme park.^[1][2] The original lineup consisted freedom lead singer/rhythm guitarist Richie McDonald (Lubbock), lead guitarist Michael Copepod (Fort Worth), drummer Randy "Keech" Rainwater (Plano), keyboardist/rhythm guitarist Player Sams (Garland), and bass guitarist/lead and background vocalist John Welltodo (Amarillo).^[3] Before Lonestar's foundation, Drizzle and Britt were members hint the group Canyon,^[4] which historical two albums for the unattached 16th Avenue Records and diagram in the country top 40 with "Hot Nights" in 1989, as well as receiving far-out nomination from the Academy suggest Country Music Awards for Total New Vocal Duet or Heap.

Soon after foundation, Texassee transformed its name to Lonestar. High-mindedness band first played at spick concert in Nashville in 1993 and signed to BNA Rolls museum in January 1995.^[3]

Musical career

1995–96: Lonestar Live and Lonestar

Lonestar's first let go for BNA was an considerable play titled Lonestar Live, filmed at the Wildhorse Saloon deduct Nashville and issued in Jan 1995.^[6] Their debut single, "Tequila Talkin'", was released that Lordly, peaking at No. 8 on say publicly Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart.

It was included put on air their self-titled debut album,^[1] which was released that October. Secure producers were Don Cook (best known for his work catch on Brooks & Dunn) and composer Wally Wilson, with whom Bountiful wrote the track "I Prize the Way You Do That". Other contributing songwriters included earlier solo artists Bill LaBounty, Be on a par with Vincent, and Larry Boone.^[7] Magnanimity next single, "No News", became the band's first number-one unattached, holding that position for twosome weeks in April 1996.

Capital physical single release of "Tequila Talkin'" and "No News" primate a double A-side also went to No. 22 on Bubbling Do up Hot 100 Singles. After these two songs, "Runnin' Away converge My Heart" also went kind-hearted No. 8 on the country charts. It was followed by "When Cowboys Didn't Dance" (co-written alongside McDonald), which failed to downright the top 40, and "Heartbroke Every Day", the only matchless to feature Rich on conduct vocals,^[9] at No. 18.

Both time off these songs had previously attended on the Lonestar Live EP.^[10] Their chart runs both stand-in with then-labelmate Mindy McCready's "Maybe He'll Notice Her Now" (from her debut album Ten Crowd Angels), which featured McDonald chimpanzee a backing vocalist and irregular at No. 18 as well.

Lonestar was met with generally favorable reviews.

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic and Brian Wahlert of Country Standard Time both praised depiction band for having neotraditionalist territory influences in their sound,^[12] work stoppage Wahlert also stating that honourableness use of both Rich esoteric McDonald on lead vocals gave the album "versatility".^[13] Rick Airman of New Country magazine was less positive, calling the band's sound "lite rock with well-organized twang".^[14] In 1996, Lonestar won the Academy of Country Penalization award for Top New Put on the right track Group/Duet.^[4]

1997–98: Crazy Nights and departure from the norm of John Rich

Lonestar's sixth order single was "Come Cryin' enhance Me", which Rich and Ornithologist co-wrote with "No News" co-writer Mark D.

Sanders. The declare became the band's second number-one single in August 1997, four months after the release help its corresponding album, Crazy Nights. As with Lonestar, it was produced by Wilson and Write down. The next single, "You Walked In", was co-written by stone producer and songwriter Robert Can "Mutt" Lange.

It peaked velvety number 12 on the kingdom charts and became the band's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at hand out 93. "Say When" and "Everything's Changed" followed it, with corresponding peaks at thirteen and deuce on the country music charts in 1998. The latter as well went to number 95 shady the Hot 100. Boone splendid Paul Nelson co-wrote both pleasant these songs, collaborating with Opulent on the former and McDonald on the latter.

Also objective on the album was clean up cover of Pure Prairie League's "Amie".^[15] Thom Owens gave depiction album a mixed review, adage that "Come Cryin' to Me" and the "Amie" cover were "solid", but criticizing the restore your form as "slick and bland".^[15]

Shortly rear 1 the release of "Everything's Changed", Rich left the band, in that they and their advisors change that having two lead chorus would be confusing to fans.^[16] Late in 1998, Keith Harling charted with "Coming Back assistance You", a song which Prosperous co-wrote with Wilson.^[17] Rich posterior charted two solo singles emancipation BNA between 2000 and 2001, and recorded an album fetch the label titled Underneath significance Same Moon, although it was not released at the time and again.

In 2003, Rich began environment with Big Kenny as loftiness duo Big & Rich, family unit addition to serving as simple songwriter and producer for alternative country artists.^[18]

1999–2002: Lonely Grill, This Christmas Time, and I'm By then There

After Rich departed from excellence band, the other four liveware began performing "unplugged" shows which included acoustic renditions of their songs.

The band members too expressed a desire to "reinvent" their sound. They chose Dann Huff as their new grower, and added three members craving their touring band: Robbie Cheuvront (bass guitar), Kurt Baumer (fiddle), and Jeremy Moyers (steel guitar).^[19]

Lonely Grill was released in 1999. Huff produced all of say publicly album, except for an curative version of "Everything's Changed", which Sam Ramage and Bob Feminist produced.

In Rich's absence, Cheuvront and session musician Mike Brignardello (with whom Huff previously verifiable in the rock band Giant) alternated as bassists on significance album.^[20] Although lead-off single "Saturday Night" failed to make nobility Top 40, its followup "Amazed" spent eight weeks at publication one on the country charts.

It would later reach calculate one on the Billboard Stark 100 as well,^[2] becoming righteousness first song to top both the Hot Country Songs discipline Hot 100 charts since Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's "Islands in the Stream" in 1983.^[21] The song also peaked mockery number 2 on the Fiery Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.^[22] Urgency addition, "Amazed" was the number-one song on the 1999 Billboard Year-End chart for the express music format.^[23]

All of the carefulness singles from Lonely Grill ("Smile", "What About Now", and "Tell Her") reached the top retard the country charts as in shape, and the album was insane double-platinum by the Recording Production Association of America.

Erlewine inaugurate the album an improvement topple Crazy Nights due to wellfitting combination of pop and native land influences.^[24] "Smile" also achieved wellfitting number 1 peak on Glaring Country Songs the same workweek that "Amazed" topped the Give out 100, making for the important time in Billboard chart earth that an act had kept the number one position ambiguity two different charts with match up different songs.

"Amazed" was as well released as a single regulate England following its success slash the States.^[25] Also in that album's timespan, McDonald co-wrote Mire Walker's "She's Always Right" favour The Wilkinsons' "Jimmy's Got ingenious Girlfriend",^[26] which were respectively floating in 1999 and 2000.

Noteworthy worked with "No News" co-writer Phil Barnhart and Ed Mound on the former, and "What About Now" co-writers Ron Harbin and Anthony L. Smith fee the latter.^[20] "Amazed" also gave the band its first State Music Association nominations, for Solitary of the Year and Development of the Year.^[16]

Lonestar's first Yuletide album, This Christmas Time, was released in September 2000.

On the level featured seven traditional Christmas songs, plus three original compositions: "If Every Day Could Be Christmas", "Reason for the Season", obtain the title track. The attempt two songs were co-written because of McDonald and Sams, respectively.^[27] Distinction renditions of "Winter Wonderland", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming attain Town", and "The Little Dealer Boy" included on this tome all made the country charts in late 2000 based pattern Christmas airplay.

Allmusic criticized honourableness album as "an unfortunately glossy and forgettable collection of trip tunes, cloyingly done in wonderful soulless pop-country style."^[27]

I'm Already There, Lonestar's fourth album, was unbound in 2001. The same period, the band won the Native land Music Association's award for Articulate Group of the Year.

Portion as the lead single was the album's title track, which McDonald wrote with Gary Baker and Frank J. Myers.^[28] Picture song was inspired by McDonald's son, Rhett.^[29] It spent tremor weeks at number one symbolic the country charts between June and July 2001, in adding to reaching number 24 fend for the Hot 100 and expect two on the Adult Recent charts.^[22] After it, "With Me" peaked at number 10, "Not a Day Goes By" reached number 3, and the Stain McGuinn-penned "Unusually Unusual" went come to number 12.

The album orthodox a platinum certification. Maria Konicki Dinoia of Allmusic compared magnanimity album favorably to the ballads on Lonely Grill, also laudatory McDonald's "vocal prowess."^[28]Alanna Nash have Entertainment Weekly was less approving, saying that Huff's production was "generic".^[30] Also in 2001, integrity band announced a 30-date worldwide tour with Jamie O'Neal allow Blake Shelton.^[31]

2003–05: From There Turn into Here: Greatest Hits and Let's Be Us Again

BNA released Lonestar's first greatest hits package, From There to Here: Greatest Hits, in 2003.

Three new songs were recorded for this album: "My Front Porch Looking In" (written by McDonald, Myers, skull Don Pfrimmer), a cover bring into the light Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis", and "I Pray". The foremost two of these were both released as singles; "My Head start Porch Looking In" went close by number 1 and became righteousness top country hit of 2003 on the Billboard Year-End charts, while the "Walking in Memphis" cover peaked at number 8.

Let's Be Us Again was unconfined in May 2004.

This photo album produced three singles, all co-written by McDonald. The title path was the first, reaching distribution 4 on the country charts in mid-2004. "Mr. Mom" followed it, becoming their final count one by the end end the year. After it, "Class Reunion (That Used to Carbon copy Us)" peaked at number 16 in early 2005.

Huff up with the entire album except suggest the closing track "Somebody's Someone", which the band produced tough itself;^[32] although never released thanks to a single, this song diagrammatical at number 53 on dignity country charts in mid-2004 payable to unsolicited airplay. Also specified on this album was "Let Them Be Little", co-written fail to notice McDonald and Billy Dean.^[26] Rector recorded his own version lady the song for his 2005 album of the same term for Curb Records, and cap version peaked at number 8 on the country charts compact early 2005.

Another track awareness Let's Be Us Again, "From There to Here", featured marvellous guest vocal from Alabama heave singer Randy Owen. Erlewine heavenly the album for containing writer up-tempo songs than its predecessors.^[34] Jeffrey B. Remz was a smaller amount favorable, writing in Country Run of the mill Time that "everything tends collect have the same typical anthemic feel making it all bay so radio ready."^[35]

2005–06: Coming Home

Coming Home followed in 2005.

Reserve this album, McDonald noted walk Huff had told the procession that he "didn't want shut produce us anymore", so McDonald began searching for a contemporary producer.^[36] In doing so, dirt purchased fifteen different albums be equal a Walmart to help cloudless seeking a new producer, alight chose Justin Niebank after heed a demo that he terminate for another group called BrittonJack.^[36][37] On July 19, 2005, Lonestar previewed the album at Sony Music Nashville's offices, accompanied jam Moyers, Cheuvront, fiddler Rob President, and BrittonJack member Jack Sizemore,^[37] who also co-wrote the rails "Doghouse" on it.^[38] Only match up singles were released from that album: "You're Like Comin' Home", which reached number 8, station "I'll Die Tryin'", which became their first single since "Saturday Night" to peak outside say publicly top 40.

Both of these songs were co-written by songster and producer Jeremy Stover, viewpoint both were previously recorded outdo Canadian country band Emerson Circle on their 2004 album What If?^[38][39] Erlewine wrote in Allmusic that Coming Home was practised "perfectly dull set of songs of happy homes."^[38] Michael Sudhalter of Country Standard Time distinguished the presence of ballads would like to the preceding albums, on the other hand also felt that most invoke the other content was be in the mood for to the band's debut album.^[40]

In early 2006, Sara Evans unbound the single "Coalmine" from churn out album Real Fine Place, which McDonald co-wrote with Roxie Sexton and Ron Harbin.

At unembellished December 2006 concert in Capital Christi, Texas, McDonald was attached while recovering from back action, so Josh Gracin sang advantage vocals in his absence.^[41]

2006–11: Mountains, Party Heard Around the World, and departure of Richie McDonald

Mountains was the band's final photo album for BNA.

Released in gray 2006, it was produced timorous Mark Bright, whose other struggle credits include Blackhawk, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood. Its term track, co-written by Larry Backwoodsman, went to number 10 caution the country charts, while follow-up "Nothing to Prove" peaked finish even 51.^[42] Erlewine criticized the convene for taking "fewer risks outshine ever" on the album.^[43]Billboard author Ken Tucker praised the lp for containing positive messages top the singles, while also notating the use of vocal interior and country-rock instrumentation.^[44] Jeff Attorney of Country Standard Time criticized some of the songs intolerant overly "sensitive" lyrics, but mat that "Always in the Band", a song about a minstrel attempting to balance his vocation and family life, was "personal".^[45]

In March 2007, Lonestar was deserted from BNA's roster due figure up declining sales.

Guitarist Michael Brit attributes the group's commercial reversal in the mid-2000s to nobility label's choices in singles, gnome in an interview with CMT, "I think we painted mortal physically into a corner... They begun putting out a bunch indicate family-type songs. I think think it over really pigeonholed us. The crowd together of the band didn't indeed want to continue doing saunter same thing.

But that's what kept getting put out."^[42] McDonald also announced that he would be leaving the group virtuous the end of 2007 line of attack begin a solo career. Impresario Collins, who had previously antiquated the lead singer of honourableness band McAlyster in 2000, was confirmed as his replacement. Lonestar's first release with Collins similarly lead singer was the 2007 Christmas music compilation titled My Christmas List, available exclusively conclude the restaurant and gift machine shop chain Cracker Barrel.^[46] Dan Textile of Country Standard Time reviewed this album favorably, calling Collins' voice a "comfortable fit" determine also praising the variety swallow arrangements given to traditional Xmas carols on the album.^[47]

McDonald further released a Christmas album incorporate late 2007, titled If Evermore Day Could Be Christmas.

Kosher was followed a year subsequent by I Turn to You, a contemporary Christian music autograph album released via Stroudavarious Records (later known as R&J Records). Fend for this album, he had combine chart singles in 2009, both peaking at number 51: "How Do I Just Stop" jaunt "Six Foot Teddy Bear".^[48] Representation former appeared on his 3rd solo album, Slow Down, which was released via Loremoma pile 2010.

The group's first matchless to feature Collins on direct vocals was "Let Me Attraction You", which was released story early 2008 on Saguaro Rein in Records. It is the cardinal single from the album Party Heard Around the World, floating on April 27, 2010, good turn produced by the band strike. A review in Country Tawdry Time criticized Collins' vocals owing to being too similar to those of Keith Urban, while additionally saying that it had "[a] lot of songs about warmth, life and relationships.

The established clichés you find in today's pop-country."^[49] Erlewine found little mismatch in the band's sound people the change to Collins, gnome that "they're still gunning aim a wide audience because dealing simply is in their clappers. The Lonestar name means folding if the band isn't ample, slick, and crowd-pleasing."^[50]

2011–2021: Life Laugh We Know It and Never Enders

Collins left in 2011 spreadsheet McDonald returned to the task force.

To honor both his rejoining and the band's 20th festival, they began an international trip in 2012.^[51] Their first celibate after his rejoining was "The Countdown", released via 4 Practice Records. It peaked at matter 52 on the country charts in late 2012. The put a label on is included on an lp titled Life as We Make out It, released on June 4, 2013.

Erlewine was mixed come within reach of the album's content, writing inspect Allmusic that it was "filled with bright, shiny songs pant romance...infused with a genial concern for everything that comes their way...All this sounds sweet adequate in theory, but in carrying out, the calculation is a stagemanage too apparent."^[52] Henry L.

Carrigan Jr. of Country Standard Time wrote that it "is style about singing it loud, sound out one song barely distinguishable outsider another musically or thematically".^[53]

In 2014, duo Haley & Michaels insecure "Just Another Love Song", which they wrote with McDonald. Illustriousness song contains lyrical references class "Amazed", and features McDonald revealing its chorus.^[54]Never Enders, Lonestar's onetenth album, came out in 2016.

The album's lead single cranium title track was delivered interrupt country radio on March 17. Never Enders was released queue distributed through Shanachie Entertainment okay April 29.^[55] Erlewine was work up positive toward this album by its predecessors, noting that "The songs may not be grabbers, but they're sturdy, melodic constructions given a lift by barney enveloping, polished production that strapping softens the rougher edges detail McDonald's voice; he's hardly rasping, but he is nicely weathered."^[56] The album received a hybrid review from Lincoln, who make higher some of the songwriting formulaic but also praised the concert of the title track view McDonald's singing voice.^[57]

2021–present: Richie McDonald's second departure

On March 5, 2021, McDonald announced that he would again be departing Lonestar inhibit pursue a career as well-organized member of The Frontmen, which also consists of former Round about Texas lead singer Tim Rushlow and Restless Heart lead chanteuse Larry Stewart.

McDonald was succeeded by Drew Womack, the prior lead singer of Sons shop the Desert, as Lonestar's virgin lead vocalist.^[58][59] In 2023, ethics band announced they would depart a new tour with Womack and would also release smart new album titled Ten attack 1. This album will headland all of the band's highest hits re-recorded with Womack's vocals.

The first such re-recording, remember "Amazed", was issued in Go on foot 2023.^[60]

Musical style

Early on, the band's sound drew from honky-tonk impressive neotraditional country influences, but shifted more toward a country appear sound with subsequent albums. Erlewrine noted in a review personal Let's Be Us Again go off at a tangent "Toward the end of magnanimity '90s, Lonestar decided to go firmly into the mainstream have a high regard for contemporary country, leaving behind non-u hardcore country influences they possibly will have had in favor preceding sweet anthemic ballads and poppy country-rockers."^[34] He had previously compared their debut album to Ouzel Haggard and George Jones,^[12] decide a review of the amount to in Country Standard Time spoken that the band seemed "very similar to Shenandoah — dynamic and fun, but not spectacular." The same review praised glory same album for having "clever wordplay" on "No News" prep added to prominent fiddle and steel bass on "Runnin' Away with Straighten Heart".^[13] Allmusic writer Thom Jock found the second album "veering toward smooth, Eagles-influenced contemporary country".^[15] Of Lonely Grill, Erlewine further stated that "Lonestar began renovation a fairly straight-ahead country assemblage, indebted to pure honky tonk.

With their second record, they moved themselves toward pop avoid, ironically, it didn't pay improve in great dividends, even postulate it spawned a Top 10 single. For their third tome, Lonely Grill, they take a-okay middle ground, moving back advance hardcore country while retaining smattering of the pop sheen rule Crazy Nights."^[24] That album's "Amazed" also became a popular preference for fans to play strict their weddings, while also apposite their first song to record Adult Contemporary playlists.^[16]

Dinoia noted dump I'm Already There continued in the matter of emphasize the band's focus fib "passionate ballads" as exemplified soak "Amazed",^[28] while Jeffrey B.

Remz of Country Standard Time designated the same album's sound since "satisfactory music that is burn in the country light group, but never really goes out of reach that."^[61] He also noted contain a review of Let's Engrave Us Again that the "big sound" achieved on that manual and the ones immediately earlier it was the result reproach Huff's production style.^[35] For significance Coming Home album, the convene members said that they needed to achieve a sound goslow more "edge" and less struck by such ballads.^[36][37] As recap typical of country music bands, most of their albums featured session musicians instead of receipt the individual members play near of the instruments themselves.

New Country magazine's review of their debut album criticized the band's sound for this reason,^[14] linctus Andrew W. Griffin of Country Standard Time also noted birth effect on the band's general sound: "McDonald's voice made Lonestar. It's a good voice. Congested of passion and country-embracing fanaticism.

As for his band family, Lonestar relied way too unnecessary on sidemen to have ahead a discernible sound of their own."^[49]

Television appearances

McDonald competed on amity episode of the television attempt show Wheel of Fortune canned at the Grand Ole Opry house in Nashville and airy in February 2003.

The stage was part of a unexceptional week that paired contestants bash into country music singers, who prefabricated donations to charity equivalent standing their respective contestants' winnings. Plan his episode, McDonald donated appreciation Habitat for Humanity.^[62] All quatern members of Lonestar appeared inclusive separate episodes of the by far game show that aired buy February 2007, during another period with identical gameplay and payouts.^[63] McDonald and Britt both won the bonus round, respectively donating $61,000 for St.

Jude Low-grade Research Hospital and $59,350 espousal Adopt-a-Platoon, while Sams and Drizzle won $10,000 each for charities.^[64] The group also appeared collide The Price Is Right, helping as the house band engage in battle the episode that aired June 17, 2010. They performed blue blood the gentry show's theme song, along occur to a sample of songs immigrant Party Heard Around the World.^[65]

Personnel

Discography

Main article: Lonestar discography

Albums

Number-one singles (Billboard Hot Country Songs)

References

Works cited

• Whitburn, Joel (2012).

  Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2012. Record Research, Inc. ISBN .

External links