Diamond Rio

  • Nashville, TN
    hometown
  • Country
    genre
  • 1984
    started
  • Bio
    full story
  • Share
  • Similar
Close

About Diamond Rio

Official Site: http://diamondrio.com/ | facebook.com/diamondrio


Diamond Rio found major commercial success in the '90s by playing an eclectic hybrid of modern country, traditional bluegrass (especially in their harmony singing), and a hint of rock & roll. The band was composed of Marty Roe (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy Olander (guitar, banjo), Gene Johnson (mandolin, vocals), Dan Truman (keyboards), Dana Williams (bass), and Brian Prout (drums). Roe had already been touring professionally since age 12, when he was a member of Windsong, and Olander had previously worked with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Foster & Lloyd. The band first got together at Nashville's Opryland theme park, and spent the first part of the '80s performing bluegrass music there under the name the Tennessee River Boys. The future members of Diamond Rio joined one by one, and in 1986, they left Opryland to try their luck as a touring band. Dana Williams was the last official member to join in 1989, upon which point the band changed its name to Diamond Rio (taken from the side of a truck) and landed a contract with Arista.

Although Diamond Rio had some initial health issues to deal with, they pulled through, and the band's self-titled debut album was released in 1991 and quickly became a platinum-selling smash. Its lead single, "Meet in the Middle," went all the way to the top of the country charts, making them the first ever country group to have their debut single also be a number one hit, and it also spun off a stunning four additional Top Ten hits -- "Mirror Mirror," "Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me," "Norma Jean Riley," and "Nowhere Bound." By the time that run ended, the group had already recorded a follow-up, Close to the Edge, which appeared in late 1992. The Top Tens "In a Week or Two" and "Oh Me, Oh My, Sweet Baby" continued the group's incredible run of success, helping the album go gold, while "This Romeo Ain't Got Julie Yet" just missed the Top Ten, their first single to do so. Released in 1994, Love a Little Stronger produced a number two hit in its title track, but since the album was more of a showcase for the group's musicianship and eclectic tastes, it wasn't as commercially successful as its predecessors. The group took a similar approach for 1996's IV, but this time it slowly caught fire; "That's What I Get for Lovin' You" and "Walkin' Away" both went Top Five, and a re-release of the album's first single, "Holdin'," did likewise.

With their commercial momentum restored, Diamond Rio issued Greatest Hits in 1997; both of the compilation's two new songs -- "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" and "Imagine That" -- went Top Five, and the former became their second number one hit. The all-new Unbelievable followed in 1998, and landed two more Top Five hits in "You're Gone" and the title cut, the latter of which inched into the pop Top 40 as well. The group kept going strong on its sixth album, 2001's One More Day, whose title song was the band's third number one. Released in 2002, Completely ran that total to four with the chart-topping "Beautiful Mess," and added another Top Ten hit in "I Believe." In 2006, after 15 years together as a band, Diamond Rio issued Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, which contained their first single, "Meet in the Middle," songs that were on records released after the first Greatest Hits, as well as four new tracks. A holiday album, The Star Still Shines, appeared in 2007, with a set of religious and gospel songs, The Reason, following in 2009. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Scroll up Scroll down

Music

From position 0, showing 3 items, asking 10
See All
  • Bubba Hyde
    diamond-rio
    Video
    Bubba Hyde
  • How Your Love Makes Me Feel
    diamond-rio
    Video
    How Your Love Makes Me Feel
  • Walkin' Away
    diamond-rio
    Video
    Walkin' Away
  • 216
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
    0:00
    Audio powered by
    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • One More Day
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/9/4/5/6/197965490.mp3
    • Meet In The Middle
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/0/0/3/7/197873000.mp3
    • Beautiful Mess
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/5/6/2/4/105442654.mp3
    • I Believe
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/2/8/0/2/105520821.mp3
    • Meet In The Middle
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/7/0/5/3/105235075.mp3
    • Beautiful Mess
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/0/1/6/5/539956109.mp3

Photos

From position 0, showing 10 items, asking 10
See All
Next Page
  • Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio
  • Riders in the Sky member Too Slim (left), Jeanne Pruett, Little Jimmy Dickens, Diamond Rio's Dana Williams and John Conlee pose with the guitar-shaped birthday cake in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011.
    Diamond Rio
    Riders in the Sky member Too Slim (left), Jeanne Pruett, Little Jimmy Dickens, Diamond Rio's Dana Williams and John Conlee pose with the guitar-shaped birthday cake in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011.
    Whitney Self
  • Jeanne Pruett and Little Jimmy Dickens admire the guitar-shaped cake at Dickens' birthday celebration in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011.
    Diamond Rio
    Jeanne Pruett and Little Jimmy Dickens admire the guitar-shaped cake at Dickens' birthday celebration in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011.
    Whitney Self
  • Riders in the Sky member Too Slim (left), Jeanne Pruett, Little Jimmy Dickens and Diamond Rio's Dana Williams at the birthday celebration in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011
    Diamond Rio
    Riders in the Sky member Too Slim (left), Jeanne Pruett, Little Jimmy Dickens and Diamond Rio's Dana Williams at the birthday celebration in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011
    Whitney Self
  • Little Jimmy Dickens (middle) poses with several Opry members and friends during his birthday celebration in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011.
    Diamond Rio
    Little Jimmy Dickens (middle) poses with several Opry members and friends during his birthday celebration in Nashville on Jan. 19, 2011.
    Whitney Self
  • Diamond Rio's Dana Williams during the CMA Music Festival on June 10, 2010 at Riverfront Park
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio's Dana Williams during the CMA Music Festival on June 10, 2010 at Riverfront Park
    Theresa Montgomery/CMA
  • Diamond Rio at the CMA Music Festival on June 10, 2010
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio at the CMA Music Festival on June 10, 2010
    Theresa Montgomery/CMA
  • Diamond Rio perform at the Riverfront Park on June 10, 2010.
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio perform at the Riverfront Park on June 10, 2010.
    Theresa Montgomery/CMA
  • Diamond Rio at Riverfront Park on June 10, 2010
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio at Riverfront Park on June 10, 2010
    Theresa Montgomery/CMA
  • Diamond Rio perform during the CMA Music Festival on June 10, 2010, at Riverfront Park.
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio perform during the CMA Music Festival on June 10, 2010, at Riverfront Park.
    Theresa Montgomery/CMA

Tour Dates

From position 0, showing 6 items, asking 50
See All
  • May 28 Tuesday
    Nashville, TN, US Grand Ole Opry House
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 11 Tuesday
    Nashville, TN, US Grand Ole Opry House
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 29 Saturday
    West Wendover, NV, US Peppermill Concert Hall
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 2 Friday
    Buckley, MI, US Southside Festival Grounds
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 9 Friday
    Lancaster, PA, US American Music Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 23 Friday
    Alexandria, KY, US Alexandria Fairgrounds
    Buy Ticket

Discography

From position 0, showing 9 items, asking 10
See All
  • The Reason (2009)
    Diamond Rio
    The Reason (2009)
    Word/Curb/Warner Bros.
  • A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines (2007)
    Diamond Rio
    A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines (2007)
    Word Distribution
  • Completely (2002)
    Diamond Rio
    Completely (2002)
    Arista Nashville
  • One More Day (2001)
    Diamond Rio
    One More Day (2001)
    Arista Nashville
  • Unbelievable (1998)
    Diamond Rio
    Unbelievable (1998)
    Arista Nashville
  • IV (1996)
    Diamond Rio
    IV (1996)
    BMG Special Products
  • Love a Little Stronger (1994)
    Diamond Rio
    Love a Little Stronger (1994)
    BMG Special Products
  • Close to the Edge (1992)
    Diamond Rio
    Close to the Edge (1992)
    BMG Special Products
  • Diamond Rio (1991)
    Diamond Rio
    Diamond Rio (1991)
    Arista Records
Are You Diamond Rio? Claim this page | Learn more about Artists.CMT | FAQ for Artists
Diamond Rio Bio | Diamond Rio Tour Dates | Diamond Rio Music | Diamond Rio News | Diamond Rio Discography |
CMT | CMT Jobs | Privacy Policy | User Content Agreement | Copyright | Artist Index | Social Projects Agreements | Ad Choices |
Portions of this page powered by
This site contains content from artists, fans, and writers from around the internet in it's natural form. Such content is not representative of Viacom Media Networks.

©2012 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. MTV and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

  • Explore
    • Popular
    • Emerging
    • Genres
      • Rock
      • Hip Hop
      • Indie
      • Electronic/EDM
      • Country
      • Pop
    • Collections
    • Artist To Watch
  • Search
  • Are you an artist?
    • Claim Your Page
    • Learn More
    • FAQ
    • Opportunities