ARTIST

Lonestar

Named after the state from which all of its members hail, Lonestar was formed in 1992, not in Texas, but in Tennessee. In fact, the band's original moniker, Texassee, played upon the fact that the group of Texans had relocated to Tennessee.

The quintet of singer/guitarist Richie McDonald, singer/bassist John Rich, guitarist Michael Britt, keyboardist Dean Sams, and drummer Keech Rainwater was discovered in 1993 playing its very first concert at Backstage Pass in Nashville by a booking agent, who soon sent them out on the road. After honing their skills by playing nearly 500 shows in two years, the band scored a contract with BNA Records in 1994.

Lonestar's self-titled debut, released in 1995, spawned the top-10 country hit "Tequila Talkin'." It also helped...
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