Alabama is an American country music band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1969. The band was founded by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry. They were soon joined by another cousin, Jeff Cook. First operating under the name Wildcountry, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Records for a recording deal.
Alabama at Bayfest in Mobile, Alabama in 2014
Alabama formed in Fort Payne, Alabama (seen here in 1999).
Fort Payne is a city in and county seat of DeKalb County, in northeastern Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 14,877.
Gault Avenue in downtown Fort Payne
The DeKalb Hotel, built in the Boom in 1889, burned 1918
Former city hall, now police headquarters
DeKalb County Courthouse