As the name implies, all of Lonestar's members drifted into Music City from Texas. Dean Sams was working at the Country Music USA show at the Opryland theme park when he began rounding up musicians for a band. By late 1992, Sams had recruited

singer-songwriter Richie McDonald and vocalist John Rich, as well as two former members of the band Canyon -- Michael Britt and Keech Rainwater.



Billed originally as Texassee, the band hit the road and performed more than 500 shows in 1993-94. Traveling in a Jeep Cherokee pulling an equipment trailer, the group did four or five sets a night. One of the performances was as the "house band" at the grand opening of the Wildhorse Saloon dancehall in downtown Nashville.



Lonestar promoted itself with a six-song live CD and a string of label showcases. After some near-misses, the band was offered a recording contract on BNA Records and its self-titled debut album produced a Top 10 hit, "Tequila Talkin'," in 1995.





Crazy Nights was issued as the second Lonestar album in 1997. "Come Cryin' to Me" became the act's second No. 1 single, and songwriters Bryan Adams and Mutt Lange provided yet another rhythmic hit with "You Walked In."





Singer John Rich left the Lonestar in 1998 to pursue a solo career. The band and its advisors thought it would be too confusing for fans