Rascal Flatts

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rascal Flatts

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Img_capt = Rascal Flatts in August 2005.
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Columbus, Ohio, USA
Years_active = 1999-present
Label = Lyric Street
URL = [http://www.rascalflatts.com/ www.rascalflatts.com]
Current_members = Jay DeMarcus
Gary LeVox
Joe Don Rooney
Associated_acts = Dann Huff
Jeffrey Steele

Rascal Flatts is an American Grammy Award-winning country pop group founded in Nashville, Tennessee.cite web |url=http://wc04.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0pftxq8kldhe~T1 |title=Rascal Flatts biography |accessdate=2007-10-04 |last=Cohoon |first=Rick |work=Allmusic] Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, vocals). DeMarcus and LeVox are also second cousins.

Rascal Flatts has released five studio albums and a live compilation to date, all on Lyric Street Records. Their first two albums, 2000's "Rascal Flatts" and 2002's "Melt", have been certified 2× Multi-Platinum and 3× Multi-Platinum, respectively, in the United States, while 2004's "Feels Like Today" and 2006's "Me and My Gang" have received 5× Multi-Platinum and 4× Multi-Platinum certifications respectively. 2007's "Still Feels Good", their most recent album, is certified 2× Multi-Platinum.

To date, they have also released twenty-two singles on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts; of these, eight have reached Number One. A cover of Tom Cochrane's "Life Is a Highway", from the soundtrack to the 2006 film "Cars", also entered the country music charts from unsolicited airplay.

History

Rascal Flatts were founded near Columbus, Ohio. Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus were second cousins from a musical family. DeMarcus moved to Nashville in 1992, earning his first record deal as part of a Christian group called East to West. In 1997, he finally convinced LeVox to leave behind his job with the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and follow his musical dreams as well.

DeMarcus soon joined Chely Wright's band, and there he met Joe Don Rooney. DeMarcus and LeVox were working in a Printer's Alley nightclub, and when their part-time guitarist could not make it one night, DeMarcus invited Rooney to sit in. Eventually, they took the name Rascal Flatts and began performing together, getting signed to Lyric Street Records in late 1999.

Musical career

In early 2000, the group made their debut with their single "Prayin' for Daylight". This song, which reached #3 on the "Billboard" country charts. This was the first of four consecutive Top Ten hits from their self-titled debut, which was issued in early 2000 on Lyric Street. Following "Prayin' for Daylight" were "This Everyday Love", "While You Loved Me" and "I'm Movin' On", which respectively peaked at #9, #7, and #4 on the country charts.

"Melt" was the title of their second album, released in 2002. Unlike their previous album, Rascal Flatts co-produced "Melt". Its first single, "These Days", also became their first Number One hit. This song was followed by "Love You Out Loud" at #3, "I Melt" at #2, and "Mayberry", their second Number One. "I Melt" featured a controversial music video which featured partial nudity, [http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1473779/20030714/rascal_flatts.jhtml Rascal Flatts Discuss Their Racy Video] ] and as a result, the video was banned from the Great American Country network.

2004-2005

Rascal Flatts' third album was entitled "Feels Like Today", and it was released in late 2004. Although its title track quickly fell from a peak position of #9, its follow-up, "Bless the Broken Road", became their biggest Number One, with a five-week run at the top of the country charts. This song had previously been recorded by Marcus Hummon (who co-wrote it with Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), and had previously been a #42 single in 1998 for Melodie Crittenden. "Bless the Broken Road" also brought the group to the Adult Contemporary charts for the first time, peaking at #20 there.

Following "Bless the Broken Road" was their fourth Number One hit, "Fast Cars and Freedom". While this song was climbing the charts, a hidden track from "Feels Like Today", entitled "Skin", also received enough airplay to chart in the Top 40. Due to "Skin"'s success on the charts, it was then officially added to the album's track listing on later presses, and was shipped to radio under the title "Skin (Sarabeth)". This song went on to peak at #2 in late 2005, and was the final single from the album.

2006-present

Rascal Flatts' thirteenth chart entry, "What Hurts the Most", was released in December 2005. This song, which had previously been recorded by Mark Wills in 2003, was the first single from their fourth album, 2006's "Me and My Gang". This album also brought a new producer in Dann Huff. "What Hurts the Most" was a crossover hit, not only spending four weeks at the top of the country charts, but also topping the Adult Contemporary charts, and reaching Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was followed by the album's title track at #6, and then two more Number One country hits in "My Wish" and "Stand". In addition, the group charted in the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100 with a cover of "Life Is a Highway", which they recorded for the Pixar film "Cars". Although "Life Is a Highway" was not released to country radio, several country stations began playing the song, causing it to chart as high as #18 on the country charts while "My Wish" was also climbing.

"Me and My Gang" had the highest US debut of 2006, with 722,000 units in April. [Christman, Ed (2006-10-07), "Million-Unit Question". "Billboard". 118 (40):7] The album spent 15 weeks as the number one album on the Billboard Country Chart and was the second-best selling album of 2006 (behind "High School Musical") with sales totaling 3.5 million by year's end.Tucker, Ken (2007-08-25), "CAN RASCAL REPEAT?" "Billboard". 119 (34):20-22] The album's success led the band to take the spot of top-selling artist for all genres of music, which hadn't been accomplished in 15 years by a country group. [Rascal Flatts. 2008. Rascal Flatts Fans, Inc. 9/21/2008.]

Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts performed together at the 2007 Grammy Awards ceremony. [No byline (2007-02-09), "Performances dwarf the awards". "USA Today"] Later the same year, the group released the single "Take Me There", a song which Kenny Chesney co-wrote and had initially planned to record himself. A Number One hit by September of that year, this was the first single from their album "Still Feels Good". It was followed by the Eagles-influenced "Winner at a Losing Game" and the ballad "Every Day", both of which peaked at #2. The fourth single from "Still Feels Good", entitled "Bob That Head", became their first official country release to miss the Top Ten, when it peaked at #15. The album's fifth single, "Here", was released in August 2008.

Rascal Flatts will release their first Greatest Hits CD, "Greatest Hits Volume 1" on October 28th, 2008. The album contains 16 tracks.

Reception

The group has an uncharacteristically young demographic (18-25) for country music (where the average listener is 44 years old). In September 2007, "Weekly Reader" Research ("Weekly Reader" being a children's general-interest magazine) conducted a poll of more than 2,000 children and Rascal Flatts ranked as the sixth-most-popular act among ages 10-12. [Mansfield, Brian (2007-09-28), "Young fans keep Rascal Flatts humming". "USA Today"]

Touring

Rascal Flatts has enjoyed financial success as touring artists. Nielsen reported that the band were the top selling artist in 2006: "Rascal Flatts was the biggest selling artist, with nearly 5 million physical album sales and nearly 4 million digital track sales." They had their first headlining tour beginning in Fall 2002, and by 2005 they were among the top 25 tours of the year, grossing $26.3 million in 777,384 tickets sold, according to Billboard Boxscore.Waddell, Ray; Tucker, Ken (2007-08-25), "RASCAL ON THE ROAD". "Billboard". 119 (34):22] Their follow-up tour in 2006 grossed $46.2 million, drawing more than a million people to 79 shows. Rascal Flatts has the third-highest US country tour in 2007, grossing $34 million from 588,009 tickets sold. ["THIS YEAR'S HIGHEST-GROSSING TOURS". "People", :16] The group grossed $16.8 million dollars from their summer tour alone. [Jones, Steve (2007-10-11) "Police excel at crowd control". "USA TODAY".]

Rascal Flatts's shows are heavy on special effects, including videos, pyrotechnics and laser lights. These effects keep the concerts interesting and, most importantly, entertaining.

Discography

*"Rascal Flatts" (2000)
*"Melt" (2002)
*"Rascal Flatts Live" (2003)
*"Feels Like Today" (2004)
*"Me and My Gang" (2006)
*"Still Feels Good" (2007)
*"Greatest Hits Volume 1" (2008)

U.S. Country number one singles

*"These Days" (2002) (3 weeks)
*"Mayberry" (2004)
*"Bless the Broken Road" (2005) (5 weeks)
*"Fast Cars and Freedom" (2005) (3 weeks)
*"What Hurts the Most" (2006) (4 weeks)
*"My Wish" (2006)
*"Stand" (2007)
*"Take Me There" (2007) (3 weeks)

Awards

2000
*ACM Top New Vocal Duo Or Group

2002
*CMA Horizon Award
*ACM Song of the Year ("I'm Movin' On")
*ACM Top Vocal Group

2003
*CMT Flameworthy Video Music Award for Group/Duo of the Year
*CMA Vocal Group of the Year
*ACM Top Vocal Group

2004
*CMT Flameworthy Music Video Award for Group/Duo of the Year
*CMA Vocal Group
*ACM Top Vocal Group

2005
*CMT Music Award for Group/Duo of the Year
*CMA Vocal Group of the Year
*ACM Top Vocal Group

2006
*CMT Music Award for Group/Duo of the Year
*ACM Top Vocal Group
*CMA Vocal Group of the Year
*AMA Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group
*AMA T-Mobile Text-In Award
*People's Choice Awards Favorite Song from a Movie ("Life Is A Highway")
*People's Choice Awards Favorite Song Remake ("Life Is A Highway")
*CMT Loaded Awards - Number One Digitally Active Group/Duo
*CMT Loaded Awards - Number One Streamed Music Video ("What Hurts the Most")
*Grammy Award For Best Country Song ("Bless The Broken Road")

2007
*CMT Best Group Video of the Year ("What Hurts the Most")
*ACM Top Vocal Group
*CMA Vocal Group of the Year
*AMA Favorite Band, Duo or Group

2008
*People's Choice Awards Favorite Country Song ("Stand")
*People's Choice Awards Favorite Group
*CMT Music Award for Group Video of the Year ("Take Me There") [ [http://www.cmt.com/cmt-music-awards/winners.jhtml CMT Music Awards 2008 : Winners : Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Trace Adkins and More ] ]
*ACM Top Vocal Group
*ACM Humanitarian Award

References

External links

* [http://www.rascalflatts.com/ Rascal Flatts Official Website]
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