Spotlight Artist: Diamond Rio

Diamond Rio’s run of platinum albums and chart-topping singles was a success story that almost ended before it started.  Tim DuBois acquired the group for the new Nashville division of Clive Davis’ Arista imprint in 1989, but various and serious accidents and health problems kept 3 of the band’s members out of the recording studio for nearly a year.  Then, in 1991, their first single made history by becoming the first ever debut single by a group to hit #1, and started the rise of one of the most successful groups in country music history.

The group’s traces its roots back to Opryland’s now-defunct theme park, following a meeting of lead singer Marty Roe and keyboard player Dan Truman.  The pair formed a bluegrass band, and as the lineup increased from 2 to 4 to 6, the name was shuffled from The Grizzly River Boys to Tennessee River Boys, and finally to the one that stuck, a misspelling of the Diamond-Reo truck manufacturer.

Bouncy rhythms and three-part harmonies characterized the band’s singles, but their generous use of mandolin and inclusion of bluegrass instrumentals on their albums reveal their more traditional leanings.  Between 1991 and 2002, they earned 16 top 10 country hits, including 5 #1′s, and notched 3 U.S. Top 40 hits.  More impressive is that every one of the band’s country albums has earned a gold or platinum certification, as did their 1997 Greatest Hits, for combined sales of over 12 million.  Diamond Rio was also named the CMA’s Vocal Group of the Year 4 times, and won the same prize from the Academy of Country Music

After parting with Arista in 2006, the guys signed with Nashville-based contemporary Christian label Word Records, and released their first gospel album in 2009.  The Reason went on to win 2 Dove Awards, and the band’s first Grammy.

Throughout the month of May, we’ll be revisiting the songs that made Diamond Rio the most popular group during country’s booming 90s, so be sure to stop back and reminisce with us.

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