How can a band sell out 11,000 seats in just one hour? That is exactly what happened when Alabama played two shows in Chattanooga in March of 1983. Amid their record-breaking success, the band was on fire. They were also famous for giving back to the region, and their yearly June Jam concert raised over $15 million for schools and charities. It was a wonderful time for the band and their fans.
This was when the core trio of cousins, Randy Owen, Jeff Cook, and Teddy Gentry, were at their peak with drummer Mark Herndon. The group, known as Wild Country in the 1970s, had recently exploded onto country radio. Their album “My Home’s in Alabama” became a huge hit, and their songs even crossed over to top-40 radio stations, making them mainstream.
Alabama plays the Chattanooga UTC Arena, March 12, 1983
The fan reactions from that time show how much their music meant to people. A fan said it was a time when the band was always around, even remembering Willie Nelson being at a June Jam concert. Another fan simply wondered why they stopped playing in that specific area, showing how much they missed them.
The band’s career seemed unstoppable until a dispute with their drummer left a huge hole. Mark Herndon was dismissed and became a missing piece. After two decades of silence, a surprise phone call led to a reunion that showed the power of forgiveness and healed a long-standing rift. It was a new chapter of their story.
Mark Herndon Reunites with Alabama in Historic Concert
In Huntsville, Alabama, on August 23, 2025, the impossible happened. Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry brought Mark Herndon on stage during the encore song “Mountain Music.” The crowd of 8,000 people cheered, and a fan named Lacey Smith said it sounded so right. It was a beautiful reunion that felt like magic.
The band’s story is about more than just music, it is about human connections and forgiveness. They give you songs for all of life’s moments, from pain to happiness. Follow Alabama on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The next song might be exactly what you need.