- NEW FEATURE - Select Alabama videos are available for viewing CLICK HERE

 

Fan Appreciation Weekend 2009

April 3rd Tickets go on sale @ 9:00 a.m.

June 12th Songwriters Showcase

June 13th Show at Randy Owen's farm (must be a member of Randy Owen's Fan Club)

June 13th Jeff Cook show at DeKalb Theatre

June 14th Fan Appreciation Day at Fan Club

 

Alabama statue dedication a shining event

Our Voice
The Times-Journal
Published June 10, 2008
Immortalized recently by the Country Music Hall of Fame, supergroup Alabama now stands forever in its hometown.
In one of the most unique and touching ceremonies in recent years in Fort Payne, Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook and Mark Herndon all spoke and were all touched when four bronze statues were unveiled at Fort Payne City Park.
The honor, which was long overdue for the group that helped make Fort Payne famous and still calls Lookout Mountain home, brought together public officials, DeKalb County citizens and people from around the country. More than 1,500 attended the event.
We want to thank Fort Payne Mayor Bill Jordan, Fort Payne City Council President Johnny Eberthart and Fort Payne councilmen Walter Watson, Richard Pridmore and Andrew Hairston for conceiving the plan and pushing it forward. Certainly, it’s not easy task to develop such a tribute, and the council overcome obstacle after obstacle with steady progress.
The statues and display serve as a wonderful centerpiece for the newly remodeled City Park, which has added so much beauty and so much more pride to our city.
But, there are others who deserve great credit for Saturday’s wonderful ceremony.
The Fort Payne Parks and Recreation Department, headed by Greg Conkle, did another outstanding job. From helping to get everything prepared for the event to serving hundreds of hot dogs and soft drinks in the park after the dedication, the department showed the best of what government can do.
Also, the Fort Payne Street Department, led by Stanley Byrd, have worked tirelessly during the renovations of the park and should be nothing but proud of their efforts. We certainly are.
The Fort Payne Police Department and many others were also on hand to keep things moving smoothly. Their efforts allowed those there to honor the boys in the band to leisurely enjoy the day and soak in the ceremony.
Saturday was another great day for the group Alabama, and an even better one for our city. It was a day well done.


Jeff Cook, Mark Herndon, Randy Owen, Alabama Commisioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks, and Teddy Gentry
Summer Hours are back! The Alabama Fan Club and Museum is open seven days a week from Memorial Day (May 26th) through Labor Day (Sept. 6th)
9am - 6pm Monday through Saturday and 1pm - 6pm Sundays


Adjacent to the beautifully revamped City Park in downtown Fort Payne workmen apply the finishing details to the new home of those wonderful bronze statues of the band.


The Fort Payne City Council is planning a special dedication ceremony to be held in association with the traditional Fan Appreciation Weekend. We'd like to extend an invitation to everyone to attend this event honoring Fort Payne's own country legends
Saturday June 7th beginning at 11:00 am.

Following the dedication ceremonies both Randy and Jeff have concerts planned, Jeff's playing at the DeKalb Theatre in downtown Fort Payne and Randy's having a picnic and music at his Tennessee River Music farm up on Lookout Mountain.

Fort Payne City workers moving the statues to their new location Friday May 29th.

CMT's Craig Shelburne has a nice article on Myrtle Beach's and Alabama HERE

RANDY OWEN RELEASES DEBUT SOLO SINGLE
“Braid My Hair” Proceeds to Benefit St. Jude
read the Press release here
listen to the song here

When legendary country music group Alabama broke the news of their 2003-2004 American Farewell Tour, an entire generation of fans turned out to support the band's last stand. After more than two decades, the curtain was closing on one of the biggest-selling, most successful bands in popular music history. It is with great pleasure that Cracker Barrel presents this exclusive, live collection of classic Alabama hits recorded during that tour experience what it felt like to be in the seats and hear the unique way that these songs were performed live. Quite possibly, for the very last time.
The Last Stand is available exclusively at Cracker Barrel locations and online beginning November 13th.
clickey click


Randy Owen honored with Founder’s Award
at ALSAC/St. Jude’s 50th anniversary celebration

MEMPHIS, TENN. (June 29, 2007)


During the Saturday night gala at the 50th anniversary celebration of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, Tony Thomas, son of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas presented Randy Owen, longtime St. Jude supporter and country music artist, with the Founder’s Award – an honor that Danny only bestowed on very special occasions. “I know if my father was here, he would want Randy to have this award,” Tony said before calling an emotional Owen on stage to accept.

Owen, the lead singer of the legendary country group ALABAMA, helped start the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® program in 1989 after meeting Danny. The program has become one of the most successful radio fundraising events in the country, garnering more than $310 million in pledges for the hospital.
In accepting the award, Owen acknowledged the fans of country music, the men and women of country radio and the country music industry for embracing Danny’s dream. “Danny Thomas was such a special person,” Owen said. “I didn’t have the chance to know him as well as some of you, but it shows you how a good man can inspire you in just a brief time.”

After receiving his award, Owen called his new band to the stage to perform for more than 1,000 volunteers, board members, ALSAC staff and other distinguished guests who were in attendance at the event.
“Each year, millions of people in the United States and around the world rally to support Danny’s dream,” said ALSAC CEO John P. Moses. “Many of those volunteers have chosen to support St. Jude because of Randy Owen. He charged the country music industry to support the kids of St. Jude and I am truly grateful to him for that. Because of his generosity and determination, St. Jude has been able to continue its life-saving work.”

The convention also commemorated the life of Danny Thomas, whose vision was to build a research hospital devoted to finding cures for children battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. In 1957, the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities was formed to raise the money needed to operate and maintain St. Jude, and on Feb. 4, 1962, the hospital opened its doors. Since the hospital opened, advancements have been made in many childhood catastrophic diseases. St. Jude has been instrumental in improving the overall survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent to more than 70 percent. And, the survival rate for children suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia - the most common form of childhood cancer - has increased from only 4 percent when the hospital opened to 94 percent today. In addition, St. Jude treats patients with HIV infections, as well as patients with hematologic, immunologic or genetic diseases.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, which was established with a sole purpose of raising the funds needed for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org
Fan Appreciation Weekend 2007 ended with a marathon autograph and meet-n-greet session attended by hundreds of Alabama's faithful fans. Thanks to all of our Fan Club members for making the event such a success! We'd especially like to recognize our staff of voluteers who did a magnificent job keeping everything running smoothly all day long.

Once again the Annual June Jam Songwriters Showcase, to benefit John Croyle's Big Oak Ranch, played to a packed house. This year a special video presentation by Big Oak opening the show spotlighted the real needs that John', his family and staff have been addressing for almost 30 years.

The three hour long concert is expected to raise in excess of $30,000 to benefit Big Oak. You really couldn't ask for a more worthy cause and Alabama is just plain proud to be able to help.

Thanks go out to songwriters Richard Leigh, Pat Alger, Ralph Murphy, Jamey Johnson, Bobby Pinson and Mike Curtis for generously giving their time.
Randy Owen performed with the Southern Gentlemen at the May 6th Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony in Nashville, TN paying tribute to Sonny James . Said Owen to James, "We're going to do this one a little bit different. The guys told me you'd really like it." With that, he was off on a finger-snapping, doo-wop version of James' 1964 smash, "You're the Only World I Know" that had James beaming with delight and the crowd equally charmed.

Sonny James spent his early years as a musical prodigy in an Alabama farm family that eventually became a professional singing group that had 16 consecutive No. 1's; a record that stood until Alabama smashed it with 21 consecutive No. 1's in the 80's.

"Songs of Inspiration
Vol. 2" is scheduled for simultaneous release by RCA Records to
traditional retailers and by Provident Music Group to Christian retail outlets March 27th, 2007.

Listen to it on CMT.com
March 15th members of Alabama debuted a selection of songs from their newest CD "Songs of Inspiration Vol. 2" in a hour long concert on the QVC network.
Order item # E02575 now at QVC.com and get an exclusive 6 song bonus disc.

Visit www.RandyOwen.com for the lastest updates
on Randy's solo concert performances and recordings

Visit Jeff Cook.Com to learn more about Jeff's planned concert appearances as well as other
informative items regarding Mr. Cook

More news from the Band on Page Two