2003
Alabama
Legendary Music Group
Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry, Mark Herndon, Randy Owen
 Composed of Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, Jeff Cook and Mark Herndon, Alabama has been one of the most highly respected and best-loved groups in the world of music and entertainment for over 25 years. Throughout its career, this foursome has used its musical artistry and creative genius to promote a set of core values, which emphasized a positive outlook on life, strong work ethic, commitment to family and home and a spirit of honesty, humility and gratitude.
Indisputably one of contemporary music’s super-star bands, Alabama has chosen to use its celebrity to benefit a multitude of worthy causes across America and beyond. Particularly noteworthy is Alabama’s June Jam, the annual music festival in Ft Payne, Alabama, which the band conceived in 1982 to support a wide array of local charities and non-profit organizations. Although the June Jam concert was discontinued in 1997, its philanthropic impact continues today through the Alabama June Jam escrow account and the ongoing June Jam Songwriters Showcase.
 In addition to the humanitarian efforts the group engages in as a whole, each band member is actively involved in his own individual causes which include: the more than $200 million that lead singer Randy Owen has helped raise for St. Jude’s Research Hospital through his leadership role in “Country Cares for St. Jude Kids,” as well as the nearly $1 million that has been generated through the Randy Owen Celebrity Gold Tournament to benefit the Alabama Sheriff’s Youth Ranches; the foundation that Mark Herndon has established to benefit hearing-impaired children; Teddy Gentry’s commitment to fundraising on behalf of the Diabetes Association, the Children’s Advocacy Center and the Ft Payne Public Library; and Jeff Cook’s longtime devotion to bettering the lives of neglected, abandoned and critically ill children. Collectively, group members also continue to be long time friends and supporters of the John Croyle Big Oak Ranch. In recognition and appreciation of the group’s philanthropic commitment, Alabama has been honored with such distinguished recognitions as the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, Country Radio Broadcasters Humanitarian Award, Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award and the B.M.I. President’s Trophy for public service. Fittingly, the band is enshrined in the Alabama Hall of Fame and is one of the inaugural recipients of the “Spirit of Alabama” medal awarded by Governor Bob Riley.
 Alabama has been honored with more than 150 entertainment awards including eight country music “Entertainer of the Year” honors, two Grammys, two People’s Choice Awards, 22 American Music Awards and a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame.” It has had 42 number one singles, as well as 21 albums which have been designated gold, platinum or multi-platinum. Additionally, the group was named “Artist of the Decade” in 1989 by the Academy of Country Music and “Country group of the Century” in 1999 by the Recording Industry Association of America. This year, Alabama received the prestigious Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music and the coveted Award of Merit from the American Music Awards. The latter distinction makes the group the most honored recipient in AMA history. Having sold more than 70 million albums, Alabama’s incredible success ranks it among the 10 biggest-selling bands in the history of popular music.
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