Little Big Town tour dates for 2009

Little Big Town is the dream that will not die.

During its six-year existence, country group Little Big Town has been battered by a series of professional and personal setbacks that would have destroyed most bands. But the four members have clung to one another, unshakable in their belief that they have something special to offer.

“Anybody else would have quit,” comments Karen Fairchild. Adds Kimberly Roads, “We’ve been through so many storms that I have to believe that it’s all been for a reason.” “I feel like it was a path we had to follow,” says Phillip Sweet. “From the very first time we got together and hit that first chord, it felt right,” Jimi Westbrook notes.

“From that moment, we’ve believed in our abilities and in our singing together. It always felt like family. It IS family.”

On their way to their Equity Records contract, Little Big Town’s members worked menial jobs and played for peanuts. “All so we could just keep this dream alive,” Jimi explains. “It was rough, but it all paid off – it brought us to the music that we have now,” says Phillip proudly.

That pride is justified. “Boondocks,” Little Big Town’s debut single for Equity, is a swampy piledriver cleverly arranged to showcase all four singers. It’s a performance of vocal passion and instrumental innovation. Elsewhere on the group’s album are tracks that are equally ear-catching. “Live with Lonesome” is a wistful ballad. “A Little More You” is a twangy thumper, while “Wounded” has a bluegrass flavor. “Good As Gone” has a driving rhythm and a dense instrumental texture. And then there’s the message song “Bones,” a minor-key, dobro-laced masterpiece of vocal harmony precision.

The group is unique in country music in its configuration of two men with two women. It is also unlike any other in that there is no single lead vocalist – all four are capable of taking lead lines, and do so. Also unusual is the fact that for most of their performances, the larger-than-life Little Big Town voices are accompanied solely by Phillip and Jimi’s guitars.

Those voices blend so effortlessly that you would think they’d been singing together since childhood. They haven’t been, but their backgrounds are strikingly similar. All four began singing in church and with their families—and Phillip even performed in a family band. All four blossomed as musicians in college. All four have wanted to sing professionally since childhood.

Growing up in Cornelia, Georgia in the mountains of the northeast corner of the state, Kimberly Roads “can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to sing.” She first performed in church with her father and sister, then began singing in talent contests at age 12. Her favorite album was Emmylou Harris’ harmony-drenched bluegrass homage Roses in the Snow. The Appalachian soprano entered Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama as a music major. There she met Karen Fairchild, and the two soon joined a singing group, beginning the personal and professional bond that would only strengthen through the years.

Indiana native Karen moved to Georgia with her family. Her family performed in churches, but she didn’t begin to take herself seriously as a singer until her college years. Karen knew some singers in Nashville who encouraged her to move there to sing songwriters’ “demo” tapes. She also began performing in a band that entertained at corporate conventions. Karen learned the music business by working as a booking agent.

Karen had been the first of the four to migrate to Music City, arriving in the fall of 1994. Several months later, her college-singing buddy Kimberly followed. In the meantime, Kimberly had married attorney Steven Roads and recorded a 1992 solo album. Kimberly moved to Nashville in late 1995. She and Karen soon reunited.