Vince Vance & the Valiants

Infobox musical artist
Name = Vince Vance & The Valients


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Genre = Country
Adult contemporary
Years_active = 1971-present
Label = Malaco
Waldoxy
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.vincevance.com/
Current_members = Vince Vance
Kate Carlin
Gerra Adkins
Chrislynn Lee
Lisa Layne
Past_members =

Vince Vance & The Valiants are a country pop group from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, founded by Andy Stone (nee Vince Vance). They are known primarily for their single "All I Want for Christmas Is You", which charted on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts on six separate occasions, reaching its peak of #31 in 2000.

History: The early years

Vance was born January 31, 1950 in Oakland, California, the son of Andrew John Stone and Melvina Anne "Molly" Stone. Vance, of Croatian nationality, was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Little is known about Vance's personal life, but at one point became a high school teacher, and had even found time to write a children's book and poetry in his later years.

Founded in 1971, one of the band's most notable characteristics is the style of Vance, who also serves as the band's keyboardist. The band is also known for its theatrical stage antics, with props such as a 6-foot head in Vance's likeness, and a John Deere five-wheel tricycle. Vance himself has 50 complete costume changes for each show.fact|date=September 2008

In 1989, the group produced its biggest hit, "All I Want For Christmas Is You", which was sung by then-lead singer Lisa Layne. A video was made for the song in 1993. For many years, Billboard Magazine reported this song as Radio's most-requested Christmas song.Fact|date=July 2007 The song receives heavy holiday airplay on both adult contemporary and country music radio stations annually; in addition, it charted several times on Hot Country Songs, reaching as high as #31.

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" was written by Vance and former lead guitarist Troy Powers and inspired by one of Vance's real life experiences. The single, first released in 1989 on a vinyl 45, came in a picture jacket with a photo of the band on the front, and on the back was the story that Vance told which inspired him to write the song.Fact|date=September 2008

The group is also known for its 1980 song titled "Bomb Iran", which was recorded in the midst of the Iranian hostage crisis and sung to the tune of "Barbara Ann" by The Beach Boys and The Regents. Later, in 2003, the group recorded a song called "Bomb Iraq", sung to the tune of "Yakety Yak" and supporting the imminent Iraq war.

Discography

Albums

* "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1993)
* "I Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans" (1996)
* "Tamale Wagon" (1998)
* "We Don't Run" (2003)

ingles

External links

* [http://www.vincevance.com Official Site]
* [http://www.vincevance.net Official Fan Site]