Heartland (Country)

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 six-piece. 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. In early 2009, Mike Myerson decided to leave the group and they continued on as a five-piece.