Lonestar is, as its name suggests, a country music band (different from Lone Star - British rock band of the 1970s). They formed in 1992 with founder members Michael Britt (lead guitar, harmony vocals), Keech Rainwater, (drums, percussion) Dean Sams, (keyboards, melodica, harmony vocals), Richie McDonald (co-lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano) and John Rich (bass, co-lead vocals).
They released their first EP in 1994 and their eponymous album debuted the following year, spawning the No.1 US Country chart successful single 'No News'. Rich left the band to pursue a solo career after the second album, 1997s Crazy Nights.
The next album Lonely Grill went platinum, helped by the hugely successful crossover ballad 'Amazed' which reached No.1 on the American Billboard charts. This album marked a successful period for the band and they went on to produce two more platinum-selling albums in 2001 and 2003.
Success began to slip after 2005's Coming Home and by 2007 they left their record label, blaming them for having chosen poor songs. Richie McDonald announced his intention to leave the band at the end of 2007 to pursue a solo career, leaving the band currently without a lead singer.
