Entertainment on Parade

You would think that a band that had known each other since the late Seventies and had sold over 73 million records might overlook a little matter like $200,000. However, that is not the case with the country band Alabama.

The band, who had over 30 number one country records on the Billboard charts, formed in 1977, but by 1979, their original drummer had quit. They brought in drummer Mark Herndon. With him in the lineup, Alabama saw great success for the next fourteen years with songs such as “Tennessee River,” “The Closer You Get” and “Song of the South.” By 2003, the band had decided to call it quits and they went on their farewell tour. In 2005, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

These are guys that should have made A LOT of money over the years. Now, Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, and Jeff Cook are suing Mark Herndon for $202,670. The lawsuit states that the money, which came from merchandise sales from the farewell tour, was paid to Herndon “before a final accounting was done.” Herndon has said he is due another $65,047 for his share of an advance the band got from Cracker Barrel, which will sell their “The Last Stand” CD (of their live farewell performance) exclusively. The other three members say the CD monies and any future earnings should be withheld until Herndon coughs up the $200K.

The band met last Saturday at the unveiling of their statue in Fort Payne, AL – want to bet that was an uncomfortable gathering?

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