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Home of Alabama 1973-1980

While more than four decades have passed since Alabama held the role as The Bowery’s house band, their legacy resonates throughout the Myrtle Beach nightclub that’s within a stone’s throw of the Atlantic Ocean.

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

From the photo montage on the club's entryway to a wax figure of one of the original Alabama crew members, the history of The Bowery and one of country music's most successful acts are intertwined. The country music supergroup “Alabama” was the first celebrity act to hit the Myrtle Beach music scene — as Wild Country, the house band at local hangout "The Bowery". Their stay at the Bowery is memorialized in the songs "Tar Top" and "Dancin', Shaggin' On The Boulevard."

"The Bowery was a great place to be a band, a great place to write and create. What’s special about Myrtle Beach and Alabama, is that it’s us."

-Randy Owen

THROUGH THE YEARS

Started in 1969

It all began in 1969 when cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, along with Jeff Cook, decided to use equipment Jeff had collected to form a band. The three cousins named it Young Country. In 1972, they recruited a friend of Jeff’s, Bennett Vartanian, as the band’s drummer. In 1973, the band moved from Fort Payne (Alabama) to Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), where they became the house band at a club called “The Bowery.” They would play six nights a week for tips, honing harmonies that would become a trademark for the band. The band stayed at the Bowery for seven summers, building a large regional following. They changed the band name to “Alabama” and used one drummer after another until Mark Herndon joined the band.

Started in 1969

It all began in 1969 when cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry, along with Jeff Cook, decided to use equipment Jeff had collected to form a band. The three cousins named it Young Country. In 1972, they recruited a friend of Jeff’s, Bennett Vartanian, as the band’s drummer. In 1973, the band moved from Fort Payne (Alabama) to Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), where they became the house band at a club called “The Bowery.” They would play six nights a week for tips, honing harmonies that would become a trademark for the band. The band stayed at the Bowery for seven summers, building a large regional following. They changed the band name to “Alabama” and used one drummer after another until Mark Herndon joined the band.

April 21, 1980

Alabama was signed to RCA Records on April 21, 1980. RCA is the record label that made the likes of the late, great Elvis Presley a superstar and cultural icon. RCA Records quickly released Alabama's autobiographical anthem "My Home's in Alabama" as a single. In May of that year, RCA Records released "Tennessee River" as Alabama's first No. 1 single. Starting with "Tennessee River", Alabama would go on to have 21 consecutive number one singles. They would have 21 more number one singles in addition to "Tennessee River". Alabama went on to have 42 number one singles in total. Alabama, seemingly overnight, became a force to be reckoned with in country music and essentially changed it forever.

November 15th, 2005

November 15th, 2005 Alabama’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame caps one of the most astounding success stories in American entertainment. With a career that to date has resulted in 21 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums, 42 number one singles and over 73 million records sold, Alabama has received over 150 industry awards including 8 country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, 2 Grammys, 2 People’s Choice Awards and their very own star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame.” They were named the “Artist of the Decade” by the Academy of Country Music in 1989 and “Country Group of the Century” by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1999.

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