Rascall Flatts: Helping Country Music to Grow
Rascall Flatts are second cousins and close friends, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus, both originally from Columbus, Ohio and Joe Don Rooney of Picher, Oklahoma. All three admits to growing up with a musical family and say they were influenced by many different genres of music including: pop, country, gospel and bluegrass. This is probably why they have such a unique musical style.
Rascall Flatts have had such hits as THESE DAYS, I’M MOVIN ON, I MELT and MAYBERRY. They have sold over 4 million records.
Rascall Flatts have only been in the business for about five years but has won many awards such as: CMT’s Vocal Group award for the years of 2003, 2004 and 2005, CMT’s Flameworthy Video Music Award for Group/duo for the years of 2003, 2004 and 2006, ACM’s Top Vocal Group for the years 2003 and 2005, ACM’s Song of the Year in the 2004 and a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Country Song BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD.
In April of 2006, Rascall Flatts released their fourth album, ME AND MY GANG. It was supposed to be released on April 4 but was leaked onto the internet on April the 2nd. Fans could not wait for its release. The first week of its sale, it sold over 722, 000 copies and hit straight to the number one spot on the BillBoard 200 charts.
Rascal Flatts last three albums did very well, too. Their 2004 album FEELS LIKE TODAY sold over 2.5 million copies and obtain the status of quadruple platinum. Their 2000 album RASCAL FLATTS and their 2002 album MELT both went to Double Platinum status.
Rascall Flatts is also known for selling concert tickets. Last year their HERE’S TO YOU TOUR broke attendance records. It is estimated that 750,000 people in 70 cities saw them perform live. This made them number 2 in selling tour tickets in all of country music and earned them another award. This award came from Billboard for Breakthrough Touring Act of the Year Award.
Look for them to sell even more tickets this year for their newest tour, which has all ready started, ME AND MY GANG. Current tickets are selling out in matter of minutes.
American Idol fans were delighted in 2005 when Rascall Flatts hit the Idol stage live and performed BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD with idol Carrie Underwood.
As for the personal life of Rascall Flatts, sorry ladies, these dream boats are taken. Gary is married with 2 daughters. Jay married a former Miss Tennessee in 2004 and Joe Don is engaged.
Rascall Flatts have come a long way from singing and playing with music with their family. What started out as a dream two cousins had, turned into a striving musical business and a great addition to the new modern day country music. Artists like Rascall Flatts will keep bringing people into country music and with their unique style of mixing the modern music with some of the wonderful sounds of the past (bluegrass and traditional country) country music will never fade.
