With a name paying tribute to one of the Southern-most states, Alabama must be country. This country-rock band has managed to stand the test of time and remain one of the most popular country music groups from the late 1970s into the new millennium.At the core of Alabama are first cousins Randy Owen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Teddy Gentry (vocals, bass) who hail from Lookout Mountain in (where else?) Alabama. The duo learned to play guitar, sang in choir and played in bluegrass, country and pop bands before eventually recruiting their cousin Jeff Cook (lead guitar, vocals, keyboards, fiddle) to form Young Country in 1969. The group changed their name to Wildcountry and added Bennet Vartanian (drums) to the lineup in 1972. Vartanian's stint with the band would be short-lived, and they would changeover four more drummers until Rick Scott stuck in 1974. By 1977 the band's official name, Alabama, was in use and the group began writing their own songs, such as "My Home's in Alabama," which led to a one-record contract with GRT. Alabama's popularity in the Southeast grew with GRT-produced single "I Wanna Be With You Tonight" and an ambitious touring schedule.After GRT went belly-up in 1978, Alabama borrowed a recorded $4000 dollars from a Fort Payne bank to record and release its own records but suffered a severe setback when they discovered a clause in their contract forbidding them to record with another label. By 1979 Alabama had successfully freed itself from GRT and released their self-recorded album with single "I Wanna Come Over;" Dallas label MDJ caught the bait and released the single as well as "My Home's in Alabama," which reached the Top 20. Thanks to the help of MJD, Alabama was discovered by RCA who signed the group and released the band's first number one hit, "Tennessee River." A string of subsequent hits followed throughout the decade totaling in 27 number one singles and making Alabama arguably the most popular country group in history.