Heartland
|
---|
Origin
| Huntsville, Alabama
, United States
|
---|
Genres
| Country
|
---|
Years active
| 1994?2012, 2023-present
|
---|
Labels
| Lofton Creek
, Country Thunder, Permian,
R&J
, Yellowhammer
|
---|
|
Members
| - Craig Anderson
- Todd Anderson
- Mike Myerson
- Lance Horton
|
---|
|
Past members
| - Jason Albert
- Chuck Crawford
- Keith West
- Chad Austin
|
---|
Heartland
is an American
country music
band from
Huntsville, Alabama
. It originally consisted of Jason Albert (lead vocals), Craig Anderson (rhythm guitar), Todd Anderson (drums), Chuck Crawford (fiddle, background vocals), Mike Myerson (lead guitar), and Keith West (bass guitar, background vocals). Signed to
Lofton Creek Records
in 2006, the band topped the country charts that year with its debut single "
I Loved Her First
", also the title track to its debut album. After their next five singles failed to chart within the Top 40, all members except Albert and Crawford left, with former solo artist Chad Austin joining. This lineup disbanded in 2012. In 2023, the band re-established with a lineup consisting of Craig and Todd Anderson, Mike Myerson, and lead vocalist Lance Horton.
History
[
edit
]
Heartland was founded in 1994 by Jason Albert, brothers Craig and Todd Anderson, and Mike Myerson. They performed at a June Jam in the state of Alabama in 1997, and began seeking a record contract through the assistance of songwriter
Walt Aldridge
.
[1]
Heartland signed with an
independent record label
called
Lofton Creek Records
in 2006. The group's debut single, "
I Loved Her First
", was released later that year, and went on to top the
Billboard
Hot Country Songs
charts.
[1]
The band's debut album, also titled
I Loved Her First
, was released in October 2006. Ken Burke of
Country Standard Time
gave the album a positive review, praising the instrumentation and Albert's "hardcore southern vocals", also saying that it had "snappy execution and catchy hooks galore."
[2]
After its second and third singles performed poorly, the band exited Lofton Creek and signed with Country Thunder Records in March 2007.
[3]
They began working with producer
Mark Bright
,
[4]
but instead released "Once a Woman Gets a Hold of Your Heart", which was co-written by
John Rich
of
Big & Rich
and
Richie McDonald
of
Lonestar
, with Rich also serving as producer.
[5]
It was followed by "Slow Down", which did not chart. The label closed in March 2009.
[6]
In July of the same year, the band moved to Permian Records and released the single "Mustache".
[7]
Also, Myerson left the group.
[8]
By 2012, all of the original members except Albert and Crawford had left the band to start families, while Chad Austin joined. Austin had recorded two albums for
Asylum Records
in the late 1990s,
[9]
and was later signed to
Broken Bow Records
. Also, Albert had been experiencing vocal issues which had to be treated with exercises and rest. To reduce the strain on his vocal cords, all three members now alternate on lead vocals.
[10]
The lineup of Albert, Crawford, and Austin released a new single, "The Sound a Dream Makes", in September 2012. It was produced by
James Stroud
[10]
and released via his
R&J Records
.
[11]
In July 2019, the band (now consisting of Jason Albert, Charles Crawford and Keith West) released its first album in over a decade titled
I Loved Her First: The Heart of Heartland
on
Permian Records
, featuring 10 new original songs with special guest appearances by
Tracy Lawrence
on the new version of their first hit "
I Loved Her First
" and
Samantha Crawford
on "When Love Comes Around".
In 2023, the Anderson brothers and Mike Myerson re-established Heartland with a new lead singer, Lance Horton. The band also announced a new album slated for release later in the year via Yellowhammer Records.
[12]
Discography
[
edit
]
Studio albums
[
edit
]
Singles
[
edit
]
Music videos
[
edit
]
Awards and nominations
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Morris, Edward (2006-11-13).
"Heartland Scores a No. 1 Its First Time Out"
.
CMT.com
. Retrieved
2008-02-07
.
- ^
Burke, Ken.
"Heartland -
I Loved Her First
"
.
Country Standard Time
. Retrieved
July 5,
2011
.
- ^
Tucker, Ken (March 26, 2007).
"Heartland Exits Label"
.
Billboard.biz
. Archived from
the original
on 29 September 2007
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
"Heartland"
(PDF)
.
WMA.com
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
"Heartland hopes for repeat success"
.
Country Standard Time
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
"Country Thunder Records folds"
.
Country Standard Time
. March 16, 2009
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
Peacock, Bobby (September 10, 2009).
"Heartland - "Mustache"
"
.
Roughstock
. Archived from
the original
on 24 September 2011
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
Leggett, Steve.
"Heartland biography"
.
Allmusic
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
Johnson, Zac.
"Chad Austin biography"
.
Allmusic
. Retrieved
14 September
2012
.
- ^
a
b
Stark, Phyllis (September 24, 2012). "Overnight Success".
Country Weekly
.
19
(39): 48?49.
ISSN
1074-3235
.
- ^
"R&J Records to Release Group's New Single to Country Radio on Monday, October 1"
.
Heartland
. 17 September 2012
. Retrieved
15 March
2013
.
- ^
"Heartland To Return With New Album"
. MusicRow. April 6, 2023
. Retrieved
April 6,
2023
.
- ^
Whitburn, Joel (2008).
Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008
. Record Research, Inc. p. 185.
ISBN
978-0-89820-177-2
.
- ^
"American certifications ? Cory Asbury"
.
Recording Industry Association of America
. Retrieved
February 18,
2021
.