Born Country: My Life in Alabama--How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home [Hardcover]

Randy Owen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2008

From the front man, and lead singer/songwriter of Alabama---the biggest country music group of all time---comes an inspiring memoir of faith, family, and living the American dream.

Editorial Reviews

Review

” Randy Owen was the lead singer of country music’s first supergroup, Alabama, playing an integral role in shaping the genre during the 1980’s. Owen’s had an interesting life so far, and this could only be the beginning chapter.” (Country Standard Time )

“[An] inspiring rags-to-riches memoir.” (American Country )

“[Born Country] shows [Owen] has a good heart, a good family and an incredible career that includes more than 73 million albums sold, 42 No. 1 country songs and a Country Music Hall of Fame induction.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution )

“A great read from a monster talent. Born Country magic carpet ride from an ordinary man who achieved unparalleled success. Well done my friend.” (Bob McKay, legendary radio programmer at WXTU Radio, Philadelphia )

“How Randy Owen went from Fort Payne, Alabama to the top of the world is a beautiful story-one that can only happen in America. He is my hero.” (Dale Morris, personal manager )

“There’s probably not one artist in all of country music that has emerged in the last twenty years that wouldn’t count Randy Owen as a musical hero or an artistic influence, including me. Producing his first solo album was a career milestone for me.” (John Rich, founding member, Big & Rich )

“Randy Owen’s story is a fascinating one. He is a true gentleman, armed with an unassuming attitude and a modest approach to life, coupled with enormous fame and success. Born Country is a great read!” (Dick Clark )

“Many volunteers have chosen to support St. Jude because of Randy Owen. He charged the country music industry to support the St. Jude kids. Because of his generosity and determination, Country Cares for St. Jude Kids has been able to continue its life-saving work.” (John P. Moses, chief executive office of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital )

From the Back Cover

Randy Owen is the face of Alabama, the biggest country music group of all time. For legions of country music fans, Randy Owen is a household name. Alabama has had 42 #1 hit singles and has sold more than 73 million records worldwide. In 1999 they were named the 'Country Group of the Century' by the Recording Industry Association of America and inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. Alabama is one of the 20 best-selling music acts of all time-in the U.S. alone, they have sold more albums than Eric Clapton or Bob Dylan. Randy will be touring all of 2008 with his new 10 piece band to support his debut solo album releasing May 20th, 2008. Randy's music comes from his heart and his small town roots. He was raised in rural Alabama and grew up working on a small share-cropper farm and today lives on this same land that his family worked for generations. BORN COUNTRY--which is also the title of one of the group's first #1 hits, a country music classic--will weave in the Alabama story, Randy's own experiences with temptation in the face of superstar status, and how he held on to his traditional, Christian values over time. An inspirational story about how a poor country boy became a country music hero to millions of fans, the book will reveal never before shared material about Randy's close relationship with his father, his troubled teen years, and how his down-home country roots kept him grounded. Each chapter begins with Randy's lyrics to an Alabama song that sets up the stories of his life, instantly connecting readers with their favorite songs and the man behind the music.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1 edition (November 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061673145
• ISBN-13: 978-0061673146
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Book....Even better than I expected !!!, November 8, 2008

By 

Southern Man (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Born Country: My Life in Alabama--How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home (Hardcover)

I want to say first off I have been a big fan of Alabama ever since 1979 when I first heard 'My Home's In Alabama' so I had extremely high hopes for this book and I wasn't disappointed at all...as a matter a fact it's even better than I could have imagined.

The book starts out with Randy going for his morning drive around Lookout Mountain to start his day.....His and his daughter's dogs all go on this drive through the country with Randy describing the area and how beauiful it is and how much he loves it....From that first chapter you feel like you are going along for a ride with Randy and he is talking to you telling you his story...The book is written in such an easy fun style to read...It makes it very enjoyable...I read it in less than 2 days (for me that is pretty remarkable---never read a book of almost 300 pages that fast before )...I just couldn't put it down !

You will read so many things you never knew..... Like when you hear them sing about a place in one of their songs...you find it's a REAL place that they went to and wrote it into their songs....There is a line in one of their songs called 'Vacation'...Where he talks about going swimming in the Blue Hole...Come to find out in this book....there really is such a place...but you probably wouldn't know that if you didn't live up there....Another cool one is the song 'Ole Baugh Road' on the Southern Star album.....He really did grow up on Baugh Rd !

Liking Alabama as long as I have I feel like I was right there with them all these years and knew the guys (Randy, Teddy, Jeff and Mark) pretty well....but there are so many things that you don't know since they are all private people and don't want to be all over the news (that's a good thing !)....Anyway...some of the things you will remember right along with Randy and some will be brand new ! (For example---In the video 'Tar Top'....That is his son Heath riding the bicycle)...Growing up reading everything I could back then about Alabama...I didn't know that.

He also mentions Dale Earnhardt in here a couple of times (Dale is a big hero of mine) and I didn't know they had known each other since 1981...I knew they were good friends..but had no idea it was for such a long time.


Randy talks alot about his wife (Kelly) and his 3 kids (Alison, Heath and Randa)....His parents also play a huge role in the book.....St Jude's Childrens Hospital is also metioned obviously since it's such an important part of his life....I just can't see how the book could be any better...He intertwined his personal life with his life with the group Alabama so perfectly.....you really get to learn about the whole person...not just the singer.

Honestly I would recommend this book for anyone to read it's just a terrific book, period....but for fans of Alabama this is a must read !....All my friends are wanting copies after seeing mine and hearing me talk about it....Oh yeah I almost forgot...there are some wonderful pictures in it I had never seen before too !

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Randy Owen - Born Country, December 1, 2008

By 

Judy P. Lathem "noles8000" (Lawrenceville, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Born Country: My Life in Alabama--How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home (Hardcover)

A great inspirational read by someone who has been very high and very low!
I always loved Alabama and especially Randy, who seems to be the most sincere one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you Thought Alabama where great wait till you read this Book., December 12, 2008

By 

Bernadette Rogers "Bernie" (Tasmania, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Born Country: My Life in Alabama--How Faith, Family, and Music Brought Me Home (Hardcover)

A truly WONDERFUL WELL WORTH READ, this book had many tears from laughter to sad ones, Randy is an insperation to us all.
I've read it once but I can say it won't be the last makes you understand why he is such a great artist & an all round GOOD GUY.
Everyone should take the time to read it.
May the songs & music NEVER stop from Wonderful Guy.
Many more stories to come.