*View article as it appeared in the Greeley (CO) Tribune 288K

Seventeen years ago Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers achieved the ultimate in crossover chart success when their duet, "Islands in the Stream," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Until the recent release of the smash hit "Amazed" by Lonestar, no country act had duplicated that feat.

Surprisingly, "Amazed," which also topped the country charts for eight weeks, was not the first single to be cut from the group's third album, Lonely Grill. "We thought 'Saturday Night' was going to be a smash hit," said Keech Rainwater, Lonestar's drummer, "but radio wasn't ready for it. It didn't have the Lonestar sound everyone was used to. The song "Amazed" was sitting like a little bud ready to bloom, waiting its turn." When "Saturday Night" didn't do as well as the group had hoped, "Amazed" was released. It initially crept slowly up the charts, finally catching on and steamrolling to No. 1. The momentum it built just seemed to never stop.

Prior to "Amazed," Lonestar, composed of Rainwater, Richie McDonald, lead vocalist, Dean Sams, keyboardist, and Michael Britt, guitarist, produced numerous other hits. "Tequila Talkin" was a top five single. "No News" hit No.1 for three weeks in 1996. "Come Cryin' to Me," and "Everything's Changed" were No. 1 hits as well. Though successful by any measure, it wasn't until Lonely Grill that Lonestar members felt they had really produced an album with a signature sound.

"Lonely Grill was more of a group collaboration than previous albums," Rainwater said. "We had a new producer, Dann Huff, and everyone was allowed to show their talent. When you hear Lonely Grill it's more the real us than on any other project we've done.

With Lonely Grill, Lonestar not only solidified their sound but embraced a new stage appearance as well, shedding the country and western "hat" look. "Since we were now allowed to be ourselves on our record, we thought we'd also take a little more control of our image," Rainwater said. "When we started out, Dean was the only one that wore any kind of a hat. When we got our record deal, we felt we needed to look like a country band so Richie and Britt each got a cowboy hat. I was the only one that didn't go for that hat thing."

Lonestar possesses three Academy of Country Music awards. In 1996 the group won the Top New Vocal Group award. "Amazed" recently won Song of the Year and Single of the Year on the 35th annual ACM awards show. "Recognition from our peers is definitely a feather in our cap, a milestone to look back on," Rainwater said. "It's hard for groups to distinguish themselves." When the album Crazy Nights was made, Lonestar had two lead singers and a resulting focus problem. After John Rich left, Richie McDonald became the sole voice of Lonestar.

"Richie is our quarterback," Rainwater continued, also making note of McDonald's attention to fans. "He is the one guy in the group that will go way out of his way to sign an autograph. If he saw a little girl behind a fence, waiting for an autograph, he'd climb over the fence and give his all just to make her day."

Dean Sams, with a long Opryland show business background, is the showman of the group. "Dean is a dancin' machine," Rainwater said. "He can't sit still behind the keyboard. He's our energetic, powerhouse guy."

"Michael Britt is kind of a quiet guy. He's also very intelligent and is the one that designs and maintains our website (www.lonestar-band.com). "I'm the outdoors guy,” Rainwater continued. "You can always find me doing something sort of crazy. I'm either out riding around on my motorized scooter, rock-climbing, kayaking or some hobby of the week like wood-carving." Lonestar's current chart single, "What About Now?" has moved into the top 15. The four members of the group consider themselves good people and good friends. Adds Rainwater: "We believe that if you focus on the music and the lyrics and make them the best you can when you put them out to the people, then vindication, awards, and success will come along."

Lonestar Photo Album

Mountain West Music 2002