Description

Cousins Jay DeMarcus and Gary LeVox grew up playing together in Columbus, OH. After DeMarcus moved to Nashville, LeVox eventually followed, and with Joe Don Rooney they formed Rascal Flatts, the singing, songwriting, and instrumental abilities of all three making them a force with which to be reckoned. Their self-titled 2000 debut album was a huge success on both the country and pop charts. All three members also proved to be successful writing songs for others, including Chely Wright, Joe Diffie, and Chad Brock. Building to an even higher plateau, Rascal Flatts's second album, MELT, was an even bigger smash than its predecessor.

Biography

US country pop trio formed by Columbus, Ohio, USA natives Gary LeVox (b. Gary Wayne Vernon Jnr., 10 July 1970, Columbus, Ohio, USA; vocals) and Jay DeMarcus (b. Stanley W. DeMarcus Jnr., 26 April 1971, Columbus, Ohio, USA; vocals, piano, bass, drums, guitar). The duo grew up in Columbus as close friends and musical partners. The multi-instrumentalist DeMarcus relocated to Nashville in 1992, working as a session musician and joining Christian group East To West. He persuaded LeVox to leave his job in Ohio and join him in a band with fellow session musician Joe Don Rooney (b. 13 September 1975, Baxter Springs, Kansas, USA; vocals, guitar). The trio signed a recording contract with Lyric Street Records and set about completing work on the songs that would comprise their debut album. Released in 2000, Rascal Flatts spawned four US Top 10 country hits, including the chart-topping "Prayin' For Daylight'. The album went on to spend over two years on the charts in achieving platinum status. The trio was voted ACM's 2001"s New Vocal Group Of The Year.
The eagerly anticipated Melt repeated the formula the trio had perfected on their debut, and duly went straight in at the top of the US country charts in November 2002. The album also reached the mainstream Top 5. Their third album Feels Like Today went one stage further, debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 in October 2004. The feat meant Rascal Flatts was only the second country act, after the Dixie Chicks, to top the mainstream charts.
DISCOGRAPHY: Rascal Flatts (Lyric Street/Hollywood 2000)***, Melt (Lyric Street/Hollywood 2002)***, Feels Like Today (Lyric Street/Hollywood 2004)***.
VIDEOGRAPHY: Live (Hollywood Music Video 2003).

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