Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

SHENANDOAH

Modern country group built around soulful lead vocals of Marty Raybon. Formed '85 from remnants of MGM Band, house band at MGM Club, Muscle Shoals AL. Line-up was Raybon (vocals), Jimmy Seales (lead guitar, vocals), Ralph Ezell (bass, vocals), Stan Thorn (keyboards, vocals), Mike McGuire (drums, vocals). All had worked in music for years playing bluegrass, gospel, soul, country and rock. Demos produced by Rick Hall (Fame Studio) led to contract with Columbia '86 and a run of top ten country hits incl. five no. ones '87--96. Moved from Columbia to RCA '91, then to Capitol/Liberty '95 with CMA and Grammy award for 'Somewhere In the Vicinity Of The Heart' with Alison Krauss '95. Raybon recorded solo gospel album Marty Raybon '96 for Sparrow; group albums incl. Shenandoah '87, The Road Not Taken '89, Extra Mile '90 on Columbia; Long Time Comin' '92, Under The Kudzu '93 on RCA; In The Vicinity Of The Heart '94, Now And Then '96 on Capitol/Liberty.