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Home , Baker Knight, Bobby Goldsboro, Bo Bice, Brother Cane, Clarence Carter, Daryl Dragon

hink Alabamians are passionate about sports? periods. Vote and comment at Just ask them to weigh in about music. Now it’s up to you to decide who’s No. 1. Go to al.com, That’s exactly what we’re doing to decide the online home of The Birmingham News, and make blog.al.com/bn/madness ’S TOP Alabama’s Top Music Icon. Our state has produced your picks for the first round in our Music Madness list. plenty of key figures in the music world, past and You’ll have until 11 p.m. Wednesday. You have until 11 p.m. Wednesday to make your selections present.T These include singers, , producers, While you’re doing that, feel free to sound off in the Web for the fi rst round, narrowing the fi eld to 32. instrumentalists, conductors and even an MTV VJ. comments section linked to the March Madness brackets. al.com MUSIC ICON The tournament will play out like the upcoming NCAA Want to rave about your faves? That’s the place to do it. First-round winners will be revealed online Friday at , basketball brackets. We’ve come up with a list of 63 star Disagree with our seedings? Tell us why. Wondering about the online home of The Birmingham News. players (plus one readers’ choice), spreading the net wide artists who didn’t make the cut? On the Web, you’ll find a By MARY COLURSO News staff writer Then you’ll be able to vote on the next round. ♦ to cover several music genres, geographic areas and time list of honorable mentions. The tournament continues throughout March.

BRACKET 1 BRACKET 2 BRACKET 3 BRACKET 4 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 ALABAMA Mount Olive-born country star Pop-rock powerhouse Grammy-winning country-rock , and producer Hardscrabble hit-maker from greats that included Velvet-voiced singer-pianist Country-folk songbird and whose hits in the 1930s and ’40s (“Margaritaville”) and band from Fort Payne, No. 1 born in Tuskegee, forged a Red Bay (“”), Eddie Kendricks of Union Springs born in Montgomery, classic Grammy winner born in included “Your Cheatin’ Heart” entrepreneur, grew up in South singles include “Mountain Music” high-profile solo career in partnered with and Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin interpreter of 1940s-’50s Birmingham, known for angelic and “Hey Good Lookin’.” Alabama and attended Auburn and “Dixieland Delight.” pop and R&B after leaving the and became known as and, later, Dennis Edwards, all of anthems such as “Unforgettable” voice and graceful work. University. “First of County Music.” Birmingham. and “Smile.”

16 15 16 15 16 15 16 15 WILLIE KING JUSTIN BROWN HENRY PANION “COUNTRY BOY HOTEL BAKER KNIGHT OTEIL BURBRIDGE guitarist with Old Memphis Grammy-nominated music Grammy-winning and EDDIE” BURNS Power-pop group from Alabaster singer, songwriter and Birmingham-born songwriter Birmingham bassist, member roots, frontman of the Liberators, director of the Alabama producer, member of UAB music Country singer, TV host and Birmingham (“You’ll Love Again”), guitarist, member of country and leader of ’s The of , organizer of annual Freedom Symphony Orchestra, has faculty, has worked with Stevie multi-instrumentalist from signed deals with MCA and group , formerly of Knightmares, credits include sought-after collaborator by Creek Festival. international resume as a Wonder and . Warrior, star of long-running Mercury, favorite on nightclub rock band . “” and “The several jam bands. conductor. “Country Boy Eddie Show.” circuit in . Wonder of You.”

8 HUGH MARTIN DOROTHY LOVE 7 8 TOMMY SHAW 7 8 BOBBY GOLDSBORO ERSKINE HAWKINS 7 8 WILLIE MAE “BIG WET WILLIE 7 Birmingham-born composer COATES Rock guitarist and songwriter Hackleburg native and Country-pop singer (“Honey”) Trumpet player, composer MAMA” THORNTON band from Mobile and lyricist with many Broadway Birmingham singer, member of from Montgomery, high-profile singer-songwriter called with roots in Dothan, started as and big-band leader from Powerful blues singer and led by singer- player credits, wrote “Have Yourself a The Original Gospel Harmonettes, member of Styx, also played in “the Southern Gentleman,” guitarist for , earned Birmingham, earned fame for songwriter from Montgomery, Jimmy Hall, best known for Merry Little Christmas.” strongly identified with Damn Yankees. prominent in greatest fame in -’70s. 1939’s “.” recorded with Muddy Waters good-time hit in 1970s, civil-rights movement. for three decades. in 1960s. “Keep on Smilin.’ 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 -BY TRUCKERS MARTHA REEVES READERS’ CHOICE CLARENCE CARTER SHELBY LYNNE Southern rock and alt-country band Gray-haired soul singer and Contemporary-country hit-mak- Birmingham R&B singer won R&B singer from Eufaula Check out Page 2A today or go Soul singer from Montgomery, Grammy-winning singer- has three members from the Shoals, songwriter, won the fifth season ers, includes Jimi Westbrook of “” in 2003, has (“Dancing in the Street”), best to blog.al.com/bn/madness attended Alabama School for songwriter with roots in south breakthrough disc was 2001’s of “American Idol,” earned Sumiton and two singers with scored on Billboard charts, known as the leader of to fi nd out who won our local Deaf and Blind, recorded hits Alabama, music devoted fans called the ties to Birmingham’s Samford Motown’s Martha and the ? combines R&B with country, rock “Southern Rock Opera.” earned Grammy nomination. play-in round. (“Slip Away”) at FAME Studios in Soul Patrol. University. Vandellas. Muscle Shoals. and folk.

5 JIM NABORS 3 5 ODETTA HANK WILLIAMS JR. 3 5 PERCY SLEDGE 3 5 BLIND BOYS OF DINAH 3 Actor and singer from Free-thinking composer and Blues-folk singer from Rowdy country-rocker who lived Soul stylist from Leighton Music producer and founder of ALABAMA WASHINGTON Sylacauga, variety-show favorite bandleader born in Birmingham, Birmingham, renditions of in Cullman in the ’70s and ’80s known for romantic R&B, earned Sun Records, born in Florence, Gospel troupe formed in 1939 at Tuscaloosa-born torch singer during 1960s-’70s, powerful infused jazz and electronica with protest anthems and spirituals and boogied to fame with party- place in music history with 1966’s credited with discovery of Alabama Institute for Deaf and (“What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’), baritone contrasted with goofy cosmic philosophy. linked her to the civil rights hearty tunes. “When a Man Loves a Woman.” . Blind in Talladega, major career earned title as “Queen of the TV characters. movement. resurgence 2002-present. Blues” during UDY AC ,20 H IMNHMNW • NEWS BIRMINGHAM THE • 2009 8, MARCH SUNDAY,

PLAY 12 14 12 14 12 14 12 14 VESTAL GOODMAN CLAIRE LYNCH BO BICE MAC MCANALLY TAKE 6 CHUCK LEAVELL BOBBY HORTON Hanky-waving singer from Fyffe Country singer with roots in Bluegrass singer-guitarist who Southern-rock singer, songwriter Guitarist, singer, songwriter and A cappella gospel troupe Birmingham-born keyboard Multi-instrumentalist and and member of Happy central Alabama, charted with spent many years in north and band leader from Huntsville, producer born in Red Bay, formed at Huntsville’s Oakwood player, member of touring band composer from Birmingham, Goodman Family, earned 1970s and ë80s radio singles such Alabama, was one of few female took second place on fourth longtime member of Jimmy College, winner of several for Rolling Stones, also played wrote music for TV documentaries reputation as “Queen of as “”. bandleaders in traditional genre season of “American Idol.” Buffett’s . Grammys and Dove Awards with and the by Ken Burns, longtime member Southern Gospel Music.” during 1970s. Allman Brothers of Three on a String.

4 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 NELL CARTER MUSCLE SHOALS LOUVIN BROTHERS W.C. HANDY VERN GOSDIN COMMODORES Soul singer and songwriter Tony-winning singer (“Ain’t RHYTHM SECTION Gospel-country duo from Florence-born composer and Country singer from Woodland, -soul band formed at Montgomery-born singer who from Prattville, best known for Misbehavin’”) and actress Skilled studio musicians, key in Henagar, popular during 1940- cornet player, widely known as known for honky-tonk style and , ruled charts teamed with in crossover hits (“Mustang Sally,” (“Gimme a Break!”) from creation of Muscle Shoals Sound ’60s, regulars on Grand Old Opry, “Father of the Blues” for top 10 radio singles in 1970s-’80s with danceable 1970s pop duo Captain & Tennille, “”). Birmingham, known for big voice during recording sessions of the inducted into Country Music compositions of the early 1900s. (“Set ’Em Up Joe”). tunes and power ballads (“Brick also hosted TV variety show. and expansive personality. 1960s-’70s. Hall of Fame. House,” “”). 13 11 13 11 13 11 13 11 RAY SAWYER DELMORE BROTHERS EDDIE FLOYD REBECCA LUKER ALAN HUNTER TY HERNDON Chickasaw native and lead Elkmont natives were Country singer-songwriter Montgomery-born R&B singer Americana singer, guitarist and Singer-actress from Helena, Birmingham native made music Country singer raised in Butler, singer of 1970s rock band country-music pioneers in the 1930s from Enterprise, earned three and songwriter, (“Knock on songwriter from Greenhill, has starred in several Broadway history as one of five original VJs recorded several top 10 hits PLAY Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, and regulars on the Grand Old Opry Grammy nominations for 2008 Wood”), star of former member of Drive-By musicals, nominated for Tonys on MTV (1981-87), also (“What Mattered Most”), SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2009 • THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS • saw his face on the cover of (“Alabama Lullaby”). breakthrough disc, label in the 1960s and ’70s. Truckers, now a solo artist. and Drama Desk Awards. co-founded WorkPlay has endured despite career . “That Lonesome .” entertainment complex. controversies.

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