Alabama

Friday, June 25

The Four Men of Alabama

Country music group, Alabama will be calling it quits after wrapping up their “American Farewell Tour” this summer. Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook, and Mark Herndon have been changing the face of country music since 1979, when the group first signed with RCA Records. Each band member and his life experience bring a unique element to the sound of Alabama.

Lead singer, Randy Owen was born in Fort Payne, Alabama on December 13, 1949. Owen was raised in a farmhouse near Adamsburg, Alabama and graduated from Fort Payne High School. He then went on to attend Jacksonville State University. Randy is married with three children. Before his successful music career, Randy supported his family by laying brick, painting, farming, and hanging sheetrock. Owen first started playing music at 6 years old. As the years went on Randy shared his love of music with his cousin Teddy Gentry.

Teddy Gentry became Alabama’s bass player. He was also born in Fort Payne, Alabama and grew up in the country on Lookout Mountain. Gentry has two children and has been married for twenty-four years. Like Owen, Gentry took many jobs to make ends meet previous to his music career. He ran a theatre, laid carpet, bagged groceries and worked on a farm. Gentry spends time with his family and helps with his cattle business in his spare time. He also enjoys writing songs, fishing and listening to music.

Another Fort Payne native is Jeff Cook, the band’s lead guitarist. Just a few days after his fourteenth birthday, Cook received his broadcast license. He then went to work as a disc jockey at a local radio station. After high school, Jeff attended Gadsden State Community College to earn a degree in electronic technology. He started playing lead guitar and keyboards at thirteen years old. In addition to the guitar and keyboards, Cook plays the fiddle, bass, banjo and mandolin. When Jeff is not on the road with Alabama, he likes to work on electronic projects, fish and work at his recording studio.

Drummer, Mark Herndon was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Because of his father’s occupation as a Marine pilot, Mark and his family traveled throughout the country during his child hood. Mark now calls Myrtle Beach, South Carolina home. When not on the road with the band, Herndon enjoys spending time with family and friends, aviation and motorcycles.

ALABAMA PRE-SHOW DINNER

On Friday, June 25 at 8PM Alabama will make a tour stop in Austin to say goodbye after 24 long years of country hits. The Frank Erwin Center would like to help you bid these country legends farewell in style by inviting you and your friends to an exclusive VIP dinner before the concert.

Two hours before Alabama takes the stage we will open our doors to our dinner guests for a night they won’t forget. From 6PM-8PM in the newly rennovated Lone Star Room guests will have access to a delicious buffet-style dinner, a cash bar and a friendly staff waiting to serve you. And there will be no waiting in lines or searching for parking as we will mail you in advance your tickets along with a parking pass.

So order a VIP package, and enjoy a night of convenience and luxury. VIP Packages for Alabama are $78 per person and include a concert ticket, dinner ticket, parking in University of Texas Trinity parking garage (subject to space availability) and entrance through Red River doors.

MENU

Roma Tomato Salad
with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Grilled Shrimp Pasta Salad

Sliced New York Sirloin
with Cognac Butter and
Portabello Mushroom Ragout

Chicken Piccante

Fresh Vegetables
Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes

Cheesecake

Iced Tea and Water

To order your VIP packages, preferably in groups of 10, go to uterwincenter.com/groups and click on VIP packages or call our friendly Group Sales Department at 512/471-7744. Orders are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Concert seats will be assigned when payment is received. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PAID IN FULL WHEN RESERVATIONS ARE MADE. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and checks made payable to the University of Texas at Austin are acceptable methods of payment. Seating availability will be limited. There will be NO appearance by Alabama during the dinner.

Tickets for the Alabama Farewell Tour at the Frank Erwin Center, Friday, June 25 are $27.50, $37.50 and $50 and a limited number of commemorative packages are ON SALE NOW at all Texas Box Office Outlets (includes H-E-B stores in Austin, Bastrop, Bee Caves, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and San Marcos; Ft. Hood Bldg. #136 and Renaissance Records in Killeen), charge-by-phone at 512/477-6060 or order on-line at TexasBoxOffice.com. Convenience charges may apply. All information is subject to change. The Frank Erwin Center is a smoke-free facility. Convenient parking is available within walking distance in nearby state and university lots. For more information, call 512/471-7744. The Nextel Emergency Message Center is available on the arena concourse during this event. For emergencies only call 512/845-4213. uterwincenter.com