Randy Owen

Induction Year: 2013

Birth Name: Randy Yeuell Owen

Birth Date: 12-13-1949

Place of Birth: Fort Payne, Alabama

Randy Owen is the lead singer and main songwriter for the country group Alabama. As such, he was made a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

Alabama made history as the first superstar band in modern country music. It was one of the first "youth appeal" acts and helped country music gain an increasingly large share of the entertainment market.

Randy Owen and his cousins Teddy Gentry (his most frequent song collaborator) and Jeff Cook formed the group in 1969. By 1972, the band was playing professionally and beginning to write songs. With the addition of drummer Mark Herndon, the band was signed to RCA Records on the strength of the Owen/Gentry song "My Home's In Alabama." Other Randy Owen songs that comprised the cornerstone of the group's repertoire include "Tennessee River," "Mountain Music" and "Feels So Right." These were all solo written, as were such Alabama landmarks as "Face To Face" and "Tar Top." In 1988, Owen's "Fallin' Again" was named BMI Country Song of the Year.

The group's overall success was phenomenal. Seven of its albums were multi-million sellers. Between 1980 and 1986, Alabama had 20 consecutive No. 1 country hits. By 1999, it had racked up 32 No. 1 successes and 51 top-10 hits.

Alabama was named the Country Music Association's Vocal Group of the Year in 1981, 1982 and 1983 and reigned as Entertainers of the Year in 1982, 1983 and 1984. The group also has 12 Academy of Country Music awards, 20 American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards. After selling an estimated 75 million albums, Alabama staged a farewell tour and then retired in 2003.

Randy Owen's songwriting came into renewed focus in 2013 when Alabama became the subject of two tribute albums. This was also the year Owen, Gentry and Cook reunited to tour again.

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Song Catalog

 

"Christmas In Dixie"

(written with Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Mark Herndon)

Alabama1982  #35 country
The Charlie Daniels Band1990 
Alabama (reissue)1997 #47 country
Ronnie Milsap1997 
Alabama (reissue)1998 #40 country
Alabama (reissue)1999 #37 country
Kenny Chesney & Randy Owen2003 
The Larkins2004 
The Blind Boys of Alabama2013 
 

"Dancin, 'Shaggin' On The Boulevard"

(written with Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry)

Alabama1997  #3 country
The Lawmen2008 
 

"Face To Face"

Alabama & K.T. Oslin1988 #1 country
 

"Fallin' Again"

(written with Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry)

1989 BMI Country Song of the Year

Alabama1988 #1 country

"Feels So Right"

Alabama1981 #1 country, #20 pop
Clay Walker w/ Randy Owen2010 
Todd Snider & Elizabeth Cook2013 
 

"Give Me One More Shot"

(written with Teddy Gentry, Ronnie Rogers)

Alabama1995 #3 country
 

"How Do You Fall In Love"

(written with Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry)

Alabama1998 #2 country, #98 pop
Jose Mari Chan2007 
 

"Keepin' Up"

(written with Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry, Ronnie Rogers)

Alabama1999 #14 country, #69 pop

"Lady Down On Love"

Alabama1983 #1 country, #76 pop
Kenny Chesney2013 
Bob Schneider2013 

"Mountain Music"

Alabama1982  #1 country
Jason Boland & The Stragglers2013 

"My Home's In Alabama"

(written with Teddy Gentry)

Alabama1980 #17 country
The Atlanta Rhythm Section2008 
Jamey Johnson2013 
 

"Old Alabama"

(written with Chris DuBois, Brad Paisley, Dave Turnbull)

Brad Paisley & Alabama2011 #1 country, #38 pop
The Nashville Riders2011 
 

"Pass It On Down"

(written with Teddy Gentry, Will Robinson, Ronnie Rogers)

Alabama1990 #3 country
 

"Sad Lookin' Moon"

(written with Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry)

Alabama1997 #2 country
 

"She's Got That Look In Her Eyes"

(written with Teddy Gentry)

Alabama1998 #21 country
 

"Tar Top"

Alabama1987 #7 country

"Tennessee River"

Alabama1980 #1 country
Hank Williams Jr.1981 
Jason Aldean2013 

Other Media

Randy Owen

Induction Year: 2013