‘Catch of the Day’ – Little Big Town – “Happy People” [AUDIO]

Today we turn our attention to the reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year, awards they have taken home each of the last four years. A group that went through some definite hard times early in their career, but emerged stronger after changing record companies three times before finally finding their home.

Little Big Town came together incrementally after singers Kimberly Roads (now Schlapman) and Karen Fairchild met in 1997, while attending Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. The two would both independently move to Nashville to pursue their music, but would reunite soon after arriving in Music City. Fairchild and Roads began singing together around the Nashville area, and in 1998 added a third singer, Jimi Westbrook, who also played guitar. Soon after they would meet singer & guitarist Phillip Sweet, and Little Big Town was complete.

The quartet played around Nashville for a couple of years, and in 2000 they were signed by Mercury Records Nashville. The relationship between LBT and Mercury was definitely an unsuccessful one, and they were released by the label in 2001 before releasing an album or single. The group would do some session work, singing background for several artists, including Colin Raye in 2001 on the album Can't Back Down. This project caught the attention of Monument Records, who signed the group in 2002, releasing their self-titled debut album later that year. The album produced two singles, which failed to crack the top-30 on the country singles charts.

After the release of the album, things started to fall-apart for the group. Westbrook's father died right before the album's release, while both Fairchild and Sweet both went through divorces and then to top off their problems, Monument dissolved its Nashville label, leaving the quartet without a label. All four members were forced to take day jobs, while balancing performing and touring.

In 2005, Little Big Town was signed to Equity Music Group, a performer friendly label founded by Clint Black. Their first single for the label, "Boondocks" was released in May of 2005 and became not only the group's first top-20 single, but peaked at #9 on the charts to also become their first top-10 hit. It served as the lead single for their second album, The Road To Here, which would produce three more singles, including their first top-5 hit "Bring It On Home". The album was certified platinum by end of 2006.

The group would release one more album for the label, 2007's A Place To Land, before leaving the label and signing with Capitol Records Nashville. Capitol would re-release the album, adding four songs to the Capitol re-release, but the album was a commercial disappointment.

Success began to find the quartet in 2010 with the release of their fourth album The Reason Why. The album featured the top-10 hit "Little White Church". Four more albums followed including the groups current album The Breaker, which was released in February. The albums have featured 5 top-10 hits, including 3 number 1 singles. The most recent, "Better Man" recently hit #1 serving as the lead single for The Breaker. The second single from the album is in our spotlight today. Brought to you by All-American Super Car Wash of Lawton, "Happy People" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

And remember, comment, share and/or like today's Catch of the Day, and you will be eligible to win a $25 gift card from All-American Car Wash of Lawton.