Achievers Alphabetical Listing

FRANCIS "BILL" LAGMAN - Mobile, Alabama

• Wrote the song "Mobile Azalea Trail".
• His trumpet given to him from Doc Severinsen of the "Tonight Show" is on permanent display at the Museum of Mobile, Mardi Gras Room.
• He received the "Mr. Mobile Music Award" in 1968 by Mobile Jazz Festival.
• He received the M.O. Beale award in 1968 from the Mobile Press Register.

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KEVIN LAMB - Florence, Alabama

• In 1985, the group Alabama offered him a position as vice-president and general manager of their publishing companies, Maypop Music Group, located in Nashville.
• Under his administration, Maypop grew from a small company into a well known and respected independent publishing house having many chart successes to its credit including Reba McEntire's "I Know How He Feels," John Anderson's "Money in the Bank" and Joe Diffie's "Ships That Don't Come In," as well as Alabama's "Feels So Right," "Mountain Music," "Pass It On Down," "Jukebox In My Mind," and others.
• In 1993 Kevin left Maypop Music to establish Peermusic's Nashville office.
• His Peermusic signings have resulted in hit songs for Eddy Raven, Reba the Jennifer Warnes Lee Greenwood, and Alabama.

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JAKE LANDERS - Lawrence County, Alabama

• He is a musician, a singer, a songwriter and a performer.
• He is recognized nationally and worldwide as one of Bluegrass music's premier songwriters having penned such bluesgrass classics as "Secret Of The Waterfall", "The Girl I Love," and "The Last Request".
• His crossover hit "Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine", sold in excess of 22 million copies for the Kentucky Headhunters.
• Jake's tunes have been performed or recorded by almost every bluegrass band down through the years, including bluegrass greats such as Bill Monroe, The Country Gentlemen, The Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jessie, Vassar Clements and the Bluegrass Cardinals.
• Landers put together his own band in 1956 called the Dixie Gentlemen
• Landers played with Bill Monroe's legendary Blue Grass Boys in the 60s, playing the Grand Ole Opry every Friday and Saturday night.

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GENE LANDRETH - Talladega, Alabama

• Founded the band at the Alabama School for the Blind in Talladega, Alabama, and was the director from 1934 to 1967.
• During the 40's and 50's his band was one of the finest bands in the State
• Talladega proclaimed Gene Landreth Day in 1979.
• The Alabama House of Representatives named a building at Talladega the Eugene B. Landreth Music Hall.
• Mr. Landreth was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1983.

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BILLY LAWSON - Muscle Shoals, Alabama

• Billy had two #1 hits ... "Learning As You Go" by Rick Trevino and "I Left Something Turned On At Home" by Trace Adkins.
• Other artists that have recorded his songs include: T.G. Sheppard, Mel McDaniel, Lonestar, Lee Ann Womack, Shenandoah, Confederate Railroad, Sammy Kershaw, Tim McGraw, Ken Mellons, Ty England, Jon Randall, Ricochett, and Bryan White.
• Lawson has done several album projects in Muscle Shoals with one of his songs being used on a movie soundtrack.

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SAM LAY - Birmingham, Alabama

• Drummer, vocalist - is one of the most celebrated virtuoso drummers in blues history, and a mainstay since the late 1950's.
• Lay is best known as a master of the shuffle beat, one of the blues' most essential rhythms. His "double shuffle" has become his drumming trademark.
• Lay began recording and performing with the founding fathers of blues, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Also worked with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Bob Dylan.
• In the late 1980's Sam Lay was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis.
• He has been inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
• He was nominated for a Grammy Award for his performances on the "Howlin' Wolf Tribute" CD.

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NUNCIE A. LeBERTE - Birmingham, Alabama

• He began playing the drums in 1922 with the Alabama Ramblers, a popular Dixieland band that played throughout the South and East.
• He also played in several Birmingham bands including, Bill Nappi, DeWitt Shaw, Eddie Miles, Eddie Stevens, Gerald Scott and the Alabama Station.
• He worked with thousands of high school band students over the years, operating two music stores in Birmingham.
• Nuncie is an inductee into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

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LENNY LeBLANC - Muscle Shoals, Alabama

• His voice and instrumental talent have graced the recordings of stars like Roy Orbison, The Supremes, Hank Williams, Jr., Crystal Gayle, Joan Baez and Sawyer Brown
• As half of the popular duo LeBlanc & Carr, their smash hit "Falling" was named to Billboard's all-time favorite Top 40 Hits.
• In 1996, LeBlanc produced the best-selling Hosanna! Music album, Revival At Brownsville.
• He's had top 10 hits on Christian AC, Inspirational and country charts, including the songs "Carpenter's Son," "Born To Worship," "All My Dreams" and country group Sawyer Brown's version of LeBlanc's tune, "Treat Her Right" went to #1
• In 2002, Michael W. Smith's recording of Lenny's "Above All" earned the Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year and soared to #1 on the Christian-music charts.

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CHUCK LEAVELL - Birmingham, Alabama

• As a member of the Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones, Sea Level, and the bands backing artists such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Mick Jagger, Leavell has toured the world contributing piano, organ and synthesizers.
• His recording studio excursions have included performances with the Rolling Stones, Dr. John, the Black Crowes, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker and many others.

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BILL LEE - Snow Hill, Alabama

• Jazz bassist, writer, composer, arranger, dramatic performer and singer.
• Lee composed and arranged the music score for all of his son, Spike Lee's, movies with several original compositions
• Lee has played with Duke Ellington, Max Roach, Jo Jones, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Ellington=s composer, Billy Strayhorn and renowned folk artist Odetta.

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AL LESTER - Muscle Shoals, Alabama

• His work spans recordings by The Dixie Gentlemen, Boz Scaggs, Liza Minelli, Mac Davis, Gerry Goffen, Wilson Pickett, Willie Nelson, Sailcat and others, and includes performances in country, jazz, bluegrass, gospel, blues and pop styles.
• He won state fiddle championships in Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Oregon,
• He has played with Jim Reeves, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Bill Monroe, Mac Wiseman, and Cowboy Copas.
• For many years he repaired fiddles for artists such as Vassar Clements, Red Taylor, Wayne Jerrolds and Kenny Baker.
• He developed and produced a self?taught fiddle course and for ten years worked with the State of Alabama Counsel of Arts and Humanities as an authority on the origins of American music and folklore.

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EDDIE LEVERT - Birmingham, Alabama

• Original member of the O'Jays
• The O'Jays had eight #1 R&B singles from 1972 to 1978, including "Back Stabbers" (#3 Pop) in 1972; "Love Train" (#1 Pop) in 1973; "Give The People What They Want" (#45 Pop) and "I Love Music (Part 1)" (#5 Pop) in 1975; "Livin' For The Weekend" b/w "Stairway To Heaven" (#20 Pop), "Message In Our Music" (#49 Pop) and "Darlin' Darlin' Baby" (#72 Pop), in 1976; and "Used Ta Be My Girl" (#4 Pop) in 1978.
• Eight of their LPs of this period were certified gold, 1978's "So Full Of Love" went platinum.

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JOE LIGON-- Troy, Alabama

• Original member of The Mighty Clouds of Joy
• Ligon is the only remaining original member of the group
• The group's song "Time" climbed to the top of the R&B charts, and the song "Ride The Mighty High" became a favorite disco song of the mid?70s.
• They have shared the stage with the Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind and Fire, Al Green, Andrae Crouch, James Cleveland, Ray Charles, Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin. The group has also made an appearance at the White House.
• Grammy Awards were won in 1978 for "Live And Direct" and in 1979 for "Changing Times".

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HANK LOCKLIN-- Brewton, Alabama

• In 1957 Locklin released recordings of "Geisha Girl" which spent 39 weeks on the Billboard country charts and peaked at #4 and a remake of "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" which spent 35 weeks on the Billboard country charts and topped out at #5.
• In 1960 Locklin rocketed across the country and pop charts with "Please Help Me I'm Falling." The song spent 14 weeks as Billboard's #1 song and a total of 36 weeks on the country charts. The song also climbed to #8 on the Billboard pop charts. Billboard's 100th Anniversary issue listed it as the #2 most successful country single of the rock and roll era. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and won the Cash Box Award for Best Country Song of 1960.
• In 1960 Locklin became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
• His recordings of the 1950s and 60s helped popularize "The Nashville Sound" as country music refined itself with full vocal and instrumental backing.

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FREDERICK "SHORTY" LONG - Birmingham, Alabama

• -He was a multi-instrumentalist
• Writer of "Devil With The Blue Dress On" a hit for Mitch Ryder and Bruce Springsteen
• His recording of "Here Comes the Judge" reached top 5 on the charts in 1968

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THE LOUVIN BROTHERS-- Henagar, Alabama

• The brothers captured success in two related fields of music--Gospel and Country.
• In 1955, the Louvin Brothers joined the Grand Ole Opry
• Their songs "Weapon of Prayer," "Cash on the Barrelhead" and "If I Could Win Your Love" have been recorded by such artists as Graham Parsons, The Notting Hillbillies and Emmylou Harris
• They have won 2 Grammies, received the "Living Legend" award from the Major Independent Record Labels, and have received more than 12 BMI performance awards
• Inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1979
• Inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1991

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KEN LOVELACE - Cloverdale, Alabama

• Has played guitar and fiddle in Jerry Lee Lewis' band since 1966.
• Lovelace has played on all of Lewis' subsequent recordings ranging from the rockin' "#1 hit "Chantilly Lace" through the #4 Honky-Tonk hit "Thirty Nine and Holding" to the Classic Top 10 "Over the Rainbow."
• Ken has traveled all over the world with "The Killer" serving as Lewis' bandleader.

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TIM LOVELACE - Mobile, Alabama

• Plays about 20 instruments including the guitar, banjo, dobro, mandolin and harmonica.
• Member of the Florida Boys for nine years.
• Has written songs for the Cathedrals and other groups
• In 1999, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame as a member of the Florida Boys.

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J. L. LOWE - Birmingham, Alabama

• Founder of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1978.
• Began playing with the Bama State Revellers 1931-1932.
• Played with the Bama State Collegians in 1933,
• Fess Whatley's Orchestra 1933-43 and 1947-58,
• Imperial Wings of Rhythm (USAAF) 1944-46,
• Wilton Robertson's Orchestra 1947,
• Ike Williams Orchestra 1958-70,
• Birmingham Heritage Band 1976-1990.

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JUNIOR LOWE - Florence, Alabama

• Played guitar or bass during his 11-year stint as a staff musician at legendary Fame Studio.
• He went on the road with Hank Williams, Jr. as a guitarist during the 1970s
• His songs have been recorded by Hank Williams, Jr., Little Richard, Tom Jones, Ike and Tina Turner and Percy Sledge.
• In the early 1990s Little Richard asked Lowe to join his band as guitarist for a tour of the United States followed by another in Europe.

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SAMMY LOWE - Birmingham, Alabama

• While at Industrial College, Nashville, led Tennessee State Collegians.
• Moved to New York in 1936 to join the Bama State Collegians directed by Erskine Hawkins. Worked with various leaders including: Eddie Haywood, Cab Calloway, Earle Warren, Don Redman, Illinois Jaquet, Reuben Philllips, etc.,
• Was musical director for several rock-and-roll bands.
• Prolific arranger, also A&R man for Platinum Records (1971).

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DONNY LOWERY - Florence, Alabama

• Since 1980, Donny has had more than 75 songs recorded by the top names in country music.
• His first single, "Old Flame" by Alabama reached number one on the country charts.
• Three other songs have also topped the country charts. These include: "Stand A Little Rain" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, "Why Does It Have To Be (Wrong or Right)" and "Say What's In Your Heart", both recorded by Restless Heart.

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REBECCA LUKER - Helena, Alabama

• Has a Broadway resume filled with some of the stages' most memorable musical women: Magnolia in Show Boat, Lily in The Secret Garden, Christine in Phantom of the Opera, Maria in The Sound of Music, and Marian in The Music Man.
• Awards include a Tony nomination for Show Boat and Drama Desk nomination for The Secret Garden as well as a nomination for her role in The Music Man as Best Actress in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle.

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CLAIRE LYNCH - Hazel Green, Alabama

• Her songs have been recorded by country superstars like Patty Loveless and Kathy Mattea, She has provided back-up vocals for Loveless and Mattea, as well as for Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Skip Ewing, Linda Ronstadt and Pam Tillis.
• Her 1993 release, Friends for a Lifetime, received critical acclaim among industry watchdogs and was re-released by Rounder Records in 1998.
• Her Moonlighter project maintained a top-ten position in Gavin's Americana chart for five weeks, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Bluegrass Album category.
• She was nominated for IBMS's Female Vocalist of the Year both 1994 and 1995, and has been a regular guest on Nashville's famed Grand Ole Opry.

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SHELBY LYNNE - Jackson , Alabama

• Has toured with country's best like George Jones, Randy Travis, Ricky Van Shelton, Mel McDaniel and Conway Twitty.
• Was named the Academy of Country Music's Best New Female Artist in 1991. Country Music Television (CMT) chose "Slow Me Down," the video from her 1995 Restless release , as Independent Video of the Year, while the album won accolades as being one of the top albums of 1995.
• Lynne won a Grammy for "Best New Artist" in 2001
• Tammy Wynette referred to her as "the best voice in country music."
• Shelby Lynne's musical style has shifted with each new release. Going from traditional country to a more bluesy sound, to western-swing and even jazz.

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