This US country vocal group was formed in 1998 by Karen Fairchild (b. 28 September 1967, Gary, Indiana, USA), Kimberly Roads (b. 15 October 1969, Toccoh, Georgia, USA), Jimi Westbrook (b. 20 October 1970, Jacksonville, Arkansas, USA) and Phillip Sweet (b. 18 March 1974, Pocahontas, Arkansas, USA). The quartet developed an unusual performing style that allowed each member to sing lead and harmony as desired, with constant switches not unusual throughout a song. An abortive deal with Mercury Records came and went before the group signed a more secure contract with Monument Records. Any cause for optimism was quickly quashed, however, when their self-titled debut album turned into a critical and commercial disaster, generating a solitary minor hit (‘Don’t Waste My Time’) and quickly disappearing from the charts. The quartet later disowned the album, claiming record company interference had ruined the material and steered the group too far into country pop territory. It was hardly a surprise when Sony dropped the group shortly afterwards.
The quartet regrouped and signed a new recording contract with Clint Black’s Equity Music Group label. Their second album was co-written and co-produced with CCM artist Wayne Kirkpatrick. Released in late 2005, The Road To Here received a much warmer welcome from critics and was boosted by the Top 10 success of the singles ‘Boondocks’ and ‘Bring It On Home’.
