By Marla Ballard
Reporter
FORT PAYNE - Fort Payne is known for many things, but what has made the city especially known on a national level is the music group Alabama. The return of June Jam has fans all excited to see and hear the group which has sold over 70 million records. Notably, over 70 of the groups songs have been on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The Alabama Fan Club and Museum draw people from across the country and beyond to witness the history of this bluegrass-influenced band. Visitors can travel back to 1969 when cousins Randy Owen, Jeff Cook, and Teddy Gentry formed their band. Guests can witness for themselves the group's southern heritage as seen and heard through their songwriting.
Since 1985 the Alabama Fan Club and Museum have resided at the South “Y” of Fort Payne on the property once occupied by the Chevrolet dealership. In recent years the building and museum have undergone remodeling and visitors will enjoy seeing showcases of both the group as a whole and each individual musician’s personal memorabilia.
Some followers may be surprised to learn the names of the other two bands the three cousins were in. Guests may be amazed to find out the number of drummers the group had over more than four decades of music while Owen, Cook, and Gentry remained together.
Meander through the museum while listening to the music that made the group famous and see just how many consecutive # 1 singles Alabama had in a row. Witness how many awards made them the most successful country rock band of all time. Visitors might find themselves humming and going down memory lane as they view the posted list of the #1 song hits that have endeared this band to music lovers.
Come to appreciate the humble beginnings of this music group by viewing the blue goose and the part it played at the beginning of the group's music career. Sightseers can travel back in time in their imaginations and envision the six years of tip jars and travel it took to become well-known.
Jeff Cook, was well-known for his adaptability to play multiple instruments: guitar, bass, drums, fiddle, piano, and mandolin. Museumgoers will see Cook’s first guitar and might be surprised to learn where it came from.
The museum offers up the history of the groups mingling with other famous bands and singers, the charitable events they have been involved in, the list of presidents who have seen them perform, and what they do when they are not performing.
Visit this Fort Payne landmark to firsthand witness the distant and recent past of the three cousins who gave Fort Payne one more reason for notoriety.
Located at 101 Glenn Blvd. SW Fort Payne. Open Tuesday - Saturday 9 AM - 4 PM. (Museum closes at 3:30). Ask at the gift shop about discounts for the museum. Call 256-845-1646. Follow on Facebook and thealabamaband.com for tour listings and more.
