DIAMOND RIO

BIOGRAPHY

There was never a "Plan B."

Whether or not Diamond Rio had become a star country-music

band, its six members agree that somewhere tonight in America they’d all

be making a living with music somehow.

Electric guitarist Jimmy Olander vows he’d either be in a recording

studio or writing songs with somebody. Bass player and baritone harmony

singer Dana Williams had a single-minded dedication to becoming a

professional musician since he was in the seventh grade, so he’d definitely

be picking or singing someplace. Classically trained keyboardist Dan

Truman says he’d probably be teaching or working in theater. Mandolinist

and tenor singer Gene Johnson believes he’d be a bluegrass sideman,

which is what he’d been for years before stardom arrived. Drummer Brian

Prout joined a rock band in Florida after graduating from high school, so

his only career experience has been as a working musician. Lead vocalist

Marty Roe figures he would have tried a solo career if Diamond Rio had

never come to pass.

Classical, bluegrass, rock and country -- the diversity of their

backgrounds is striking. But the fact that all six are virtuoso players is

what makes the whole so much bigger than the sum of its parts. On their

new album, Completely, Diamond Rio spans an astonishingly wide array of

styles, from the pop-ballad title tune to the country rocking "Big Ol’ Fire."

The collection includes everything from the jazz flavored "Something

Cool" to the hardcore country weeper "Make Sure You’ve Got It All."

"We All Fall Down," "Wrinkles" and "I Believe" are a trio of powerful

message songs that are among the strongest this illustrious group has ever

recorded. "If You’d Like Some Lovin’" is a hardcore honky-tonk two-step,

while "The Box" bristles with rock-rhythmic complexity. The dazzling

musical sophistication of Completely ranges from the mid-tempo romance

of "You’ll Find Me" to the breathtaking, lightning-flash instrumental

"Rural Philharmonic."

"Personally, I think we should have titled the album Beautiful Mess,"

says Brian. "Not only because that’s the first single, but because if you

listen to everything we recorded for this, it’s a ‘beautiful mess’ of songs."

But Completely works as a title as well. For this collection,

"completely" surveys the outstanding musical abilities of the only band on

contemporary country radio that plays all its own instruments on every

single record.

Completely is the follow-up to One More Day, which marked

Diamond Rio’s resurgence in 2000-01. When the group issued that CD,

it was somewhat in the doldrums. A string of 16 top-10 hits throughout

the ‘90s had slowed by 1999. Then, in the final weeks of 2000, the

"One More Day" single was issued. The aching ballad became not only a

Grammy nominated smash, but a genuine pop-culture phenomenon.

"It all started in Los Angeles, when [RCA Label Group-Nashville

Chairman] Joe Galante played six of our new songs for some RCA people

who were from outside country music," recalls Dan. "When he came home,

he told us he was just astounded, because after he played ‘One More Day’

everybody stood up and applauded. That’s why it was chosen for a single.

And then, there it went."

On February 18, 2001, auto racing legend Dale Earnhardt was killed

during the last lap of the Daytona 500. A radio station in New York began

airing a version of "One More Day" as a tribute song to the fallen driver.

"It was at that point we realized the song was taking on such a

bigger meaning," says Brian. "It was more than a hit. It was touching

people’s lives." And then came the awful events of September 11, 2001. In their

wake, "One More Day" was revived as one of America’s "healing" songs,

and it has remained so to this day.

"Today, it’s such a delight to play that song," says Dan. "It’s a

wonderful thing to watch the reaction of fans coming out of their chairs

when you’re doing it. There’s a reverence for that song, and you can feel it

in the air. A lot of people are crying and a lot of people are singing along.

There’s a definite vibe with that song that you don’t find with anything

adds Gene. "We were in that mode where we were wondering what to do to

bring things back around. And ‘One More Day’ did that – an answer to a

little prayer, I guess."

The song is one of many Diamond Rio milestones. The first, of

course, was when the group coalesced into its present lineup in 1986. The

members hailed from all over the map – California (Jimmy), New York

State (Brian), Ohio (Marty and Dana), Utah (Dan), Pennsylvania (Gene) –

but they were billed under a name that reflected their adopted home, The

Tennessee River Boys. Arista Records signed the band in 1989, marking

their next big milestone. From then on, the newly renamed Diamond Rio

made one memory after another.

Between 1991 and 1999, the band placed 22 singles on the charts,

including such phenomenal successes as "Meet in the Middle," "In a Week

or Two," "Love a Little Stronger," "How Your Love Makes Me Feel,"

"Imagine That," "You’re Gone" and "Unbelievable." Along the way,

Diamond Rio picked up five Country Music Association awards, including

four for Vocal Group of the Year. They also picked up two Academy of

Country Music trophies as Group of the Year and eight Grammy

nominations. Diamond Rio became the most award-nominated country

band of the decade.

All six of their albums of the ‘90s earned Gold Record certifications

and three of those are Platinum sellers. As Diamond Rio entered the new

millennium, the explosive success of "One More Day" led to an eleventh

Grammy nomination and a seventh Gold Record.

"To think after 10 years of doing this and then to have one of the

biggest songs of our career," marvels Dana. "We said from the beginning

we wanted to be like Alabama and not just a flash in the pan."

"It’s hard to believe that we have gone from a new entity to being a

veteran of this business," adds Marty. "Because it feels to me like we have

just hit our stride."

Through it all, these six men have never had a major disagreement.

Despite the fact that they come from widely different geographic regions,

musical backgrounds, religious denominations and lifestyles, the members

of Diamond Rio are a united front.

"One thing is, we share a work ethic, that’s for sure," says Dan. "I

can’t believe how motivated Jimmy is in all aspects of his life. Marty was

just born with this drive. Brian’s just got the energy of life in him. You put

that all together and that’s why we’ve been so fortunate to continue to

grow as artists."

Perhaps one secret of the band’s durability is that the members

don’t socialize together when they’re at home in Nashville. Also, there is

the mutual respect that these gifted players have for one another.

"A few years ago, I sent Jimmy a Christmas card," Dan recalls. "I put

a little note in there that said, ‘Jimmy, it’s been a thrill all these years to

be able to play with you because I admire you so much.’ He came back to

me with a phone call and was so gracious and appreciative that we were

practically crying together on the phone. Our respect for each other goes

that deep."

They seldom disagree on songs. With Dana as the group’s listeningsession

leader, the boys screen upwards of 1,000 songs per album while

they’re traveling to shows in their tour bus. Then Jimmy leads them in the

studio as they arrange and transform each selection into the distinctive

Diamond Rio style.

"We’ve always been picky about songs," says Gene. "We’ve always

tried to have a good mix of stuff on our albums -- something that’s fun,

something that’s very radio friendly, something that’s going to touch

someone’s heart, maybe even something that’s pop influenced. More than

ever, on this album, we wanted to show more than one musical side of

Diamond Rio."

"I’ll tell you what kept me motivated on Completely," adds Dan. "My

son is 17 years old now. I wanted to make this good because I want my

son’s son to be saying, ‘Man, those guys really knew what they were

doing.’ And when I listen to this album 20 years from now, I want to listen

with a smile on my face, thinking, ‘Boy, we nailed that.’"

"Yes," agrees Jimmy. "I remember that [co-producer] Mike Clute

once asked me a very poignant question. He said, ‘If this was your last

album, what would you record?’ I told him that I want to make records

that will be played by friends in late-night listening parties, like I used to

do, pulling out George Jones doing ‘The Grand Tour,’ The Dixie Dregs’

‘Pride of the Farm’ or Ella Fitzgerald singing ’Round Midnight.’"

Comments Marty, "You want to feel with each project when you sit

back and listen to it that you can say, ‘I like where we have come from, but

I love where we are going.’ We keep it fresh by trying new things and

going new places. As long as we’re doing that, I’ll stay with it."

"This band is something I never thought would come my way, and

when it did, it was the answer to so many questions in my life," says Dana.

"People ask us what kind of music we listen to and what did we listen to

when we were starting out. Well, Completely is the answer to all those

questions. There’s a piece of all of us in this record, a piece of everything

we like.

"I have to tell you how proud I am of the music we’ve made over the

years. It’s music that I will love forever," Dana continues. "Every time we

finish a new record, I think it's the best we’ve ever done. And I guess as

long as that continues, and people want to hear it, we will keep doing it.

All I know is, I still love it!"

"Through it all, I’m still excited to be working with these guys," says

Jimmy. "Sorry, but I must admit – it really feels cool to be in Diamond

Rio."

"And as long as we’re able to be a vehicle for songs as great as these,

we’ll always just keep coming back around," adds Brian. "I’ve never really

had a Plan B, because this is all I’ve ever done since I got out of high

school."

"I don’t know how to do anything else," Dana cheerfully admits.

"I would have stayed in music no matter what," comments Dan.

"One way or another, we all would have."

####

Career Highlights

Grammy nomination, Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal "Beautiful Mess"

Album chart

CMA nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

TV appearance by Jimmy Olander and Dana Williams, "The Screen Savers" (Tech TV)

"Beautiful Mess" performances on Canada’s Vicki Gabereau show and CCMA Award Show

CMT #1 Video for "Beautiful Mess"

ACM award, Instrumentalist, Guitar – Jimmy Olander

Presenters at ACM (Album of the Year award)

ACM nomination, Top Vocal Group

ACM nomination, Single Record of the Year ("One More Day")

ACM nomination, Song of the Year ("One More Day")

ACM nominations, Instrumentalist Categories: Jimmy Olander for Guitar, Dana Williams for Bass, Dan

Truman for Keyboards, Gene Johnson for Specialty Instrument (mandolin) and Brian Prout for drums

Grammy nomination, Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal "One More Day"

Grammy nomination, Best Country Song, "One More Day"

Grammy nomination, Best Country Album, "One More Day"

Orville H. Gibson Guitar nomination, Best Bassist – Dana Williams

The Full House Canadian Tour with Kenny Rogers and Rebecca Lynn Howard

ACM nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

ACM nominations, Instrumentalist Categories: Jimmy Olander for Guitar, Dana Williams for Bass, Dan

Truman for Keyboard and Brian Prout for drums

TV appearance with performance, CNN

TV appearance with performance, "Live with Regis and Kelly"

TV appearance by Marty Roe on "Politically Incorrect," ABC

TV appearance by Marty Roe on "The Test," FX

Sisters)

CMA nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

CMA nomination, Song of the Year "One More Day"

CMA nomination, Single of the Year "One More Day"

CMA Performance ("One More Day")

Larry King Live Performance ("One More Day")

Radio Music Awards nomination, Song of the Year "One More Day"

7

Grammy nomination, Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal,"Unbelievable"

American Music Awards nomination, Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group

ACM nominations, Instrumentalist Categories: Gene Johnson for Specialty Instrument (mandolin), Jimmy

Olander for Guitar, Dana Williams for Bass and Dan Truman for Keyboard

CMA Nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

CMT September "Showcase Artist of the Month"

TV appearance by Jimmy Olander and Dana Williams, "Call For Help" (Tech TV)

TV Special "The Rio at Hermitage", a one hour special featuring celebrity golf highlights, skydiving and

concert footage (The Golf Channel)

CMA Nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

TNN/Music City News Awards nomination, Vocal Band

TNN/Music City News Awards performance of the song, "Unbelievable"

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards nomination, Favorite Duo or Group – Country, "Unbelievable"

TV Special "The Life & Times of Diamond Rio" (TNN)

Musical Guests, "G. Gordon Liddy Show" (nationally syndicated radio program)

Musical Guests, "Donny & Marie"

Musical Guests, "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee" at Disney World in Orlando, FL (ABC)

Musical Guests, "The Dini Petty Show" (Canada)

Musical Guests, "Open Mike with Mike Bullard" (CTV-TV & Cable Comedy Network/Canada)

Grammy Award nomination, NARAS, "How Your Love Makes Me Feel"

ACM nominations, Academy of Country Music: Vocal Duo/Group, Single and Video for

"How Your Love Makes Me Feel"

Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry (the first group in 14 years)

CMA nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

Musical Guests, "Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular" (FX Network)

8

Performed at NFL Sega/Superbowl in January

Instrumental of the Year nomination, ACM (Jimmy/lead guitar, Dana/bass, Brian/drums)

CMT April "Showcase Artist of the Month"

TNN/Music City News Awards nomination for Top Vocal Group,

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards nomination for Favorite Country Group or Duo

TV special "‘Hello Darlin’: A Conway Twitty Tribute" (TNN)

Image featured on 480,000 Pepsi Cola cans distributed throughout northern California to

promote regional tour

Arista/Nashville features the Diamond Rio song "Walkin’ in Jerusalem." The band

participated in an accompanying television special on TNN

Vocal Group of the Year, CMA

Group becomes spokesmen for Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization

Vocal Group of the Year nomination, CMA

Favorite Group of the Year, Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards

Vocal Group of the Year, Radio & Records

Top Vocal Group nomination, CMA

"Diamond Rio Racing" team was launched, with its own NASCAR Winston Cup car

TV special "Diamond Rio Celebrates Red Wing" (TNN)

Vocal Group of the Year, Radio & Records

Album of the Year, Radio & Records

TNN/Music City News Awards nomination for Vocal Group of the Year

TNN/Music City News Awards nomination for Instrumentalist – Jimmy Olander

Vocal Group of the Year, CMA

Teamed with labelmates Steve Wariner and Lee Roy Parnell under the name "Jed Zeppelin" to record

Vocal Group of the Year, CMA

Group of the Year, Radio & Records

Top Vocal Group, ACM

Tour with Alabama named #1 "Country Tour of the Year" boasting 23 sell outs

Vocal Group of the Year, CMA

Group of the Year, Radio & Records

Top Vocal Group, ACM

Best New Touring Artist nomination, SRO Convention

Tour with Alan Jackson

Top Vocal Group, ACM

Launch of "Diamond Rio Celebrity Golf Classic" charity event benefiting PDE and American Lung

Association

CMA Nomination, Vocal Group of the Year

Debut on the "Grand Ole Opry" October 4, 1991