Heartland: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Sugarland
• Rascal Flatts
• Lonestar
• Povertyneck Hillbillies
• Brad Paisley
• Little Big Town
• Keith Urban

• Alabama
• Garth Brooks
• Johnny Cash
• Sam Cooke
• George Strait

Genres:

Country Music, Contemporary Country Music

Decades Active:

2000's

Alabama's Heartland were formed by singer Jason Albert, guitarist Craig Anderson, and drummer Todd Anderson, with lead guitarist Mike Myerson, bassist Keith West, and fiddler Chuck Crawford coming on board a little later to make the group a sixpiece. Citing influences as diverse as Johnny Cash, AC/DC, Alabama, Sam Cooke, Van Halen, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, and the Beach Boys, the band developed a strong regional following in the Huntsville, AL, region with their strong live shows. Catching the eye of Lofton Creek Records, Heartland signed a recording contract with the Nashville indie and was soon recording at Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios with producer Walt Aldridge, issuing a single, "I Loved Her First," in 2006. The song, written by Aldridge with Elliott Park, is a poignant ballad of a father's love for his daughter and seems destined to become a standard at country weddings and receptions until the end of time. An album, also called I Loved Her First, followed later in 2006.

- Steve Leggett, All Music Guide