Gloriana photo courtesy of Emblem Records.

Just over a week ago the 2009 American Music Awards were handed out and Gloriana took home the all-genre, fan-voted award for “Breakthrough Artist of the Year.”   During the acceptance speech lead singer Tom Gossin said “we’re Gloriana from Nashville, Tenn., we’re a country group. Could we get a show of hands of everybody that just said, ‘Who the heck is Gloriana?’ Well, you’re not alone.”   If you’re wondering too, GAC’s upcoming presentation of INTRODUCING: Gloriana might just help.

GAC takes fans up close and behind the scenes to help tell the story behind one of country’s hottest new bands.  Viewers can learn about the pact Tom Gossin made with younger brother Mike.  “We promised each other, we were, like, ‘We’ll play anywhere for any amount of money; we’ll play for dinner, let’s just play as much as we can.’”  Ten dues-paying years later the brothers moved to Nashville, a move that has clearly served them well.

The Gossin brothers actually met group member Rachel Reinert on MySpace.  “The three of us got together and we just clicked,” she remembers.  Tom and Mike also moved in with Rachel because at the time, they’d been sleeping on friends’ couches.  Shortly thereafter, at a show at Nashville club Third and Lindsley, they met Cheyenne Kimball and the group was complete.  “I’d been playing guitar for 10 years and picked up mandolin for the band,” Cheyenne, the group’s youngest member says.  “I think I’m the only mandolin player who plays it upside down and backwards.” (playing it as a left-handed musician)

When it came time to make their debut album, the group had a clear vision.  “We wanted to do a group thing that was a combination of four people who could really hold their own singing,” Tom says.  “A lot of songwriters write for a solo voice so we spent a lot of time on these songs, finding a cohesive way to make it work.”  And it’s obviously working:  the group’s debut self-titled LP has sold 375,000 copies to date, making it the best selling debut by a new act in 2009.

When asked about their sound, Cheyenne says “It’s a big melting pot but the one thing we truly have in common is the Fleetwood Mac thing that we all love.”

The group toured with Taylor Swift for 6 months and crews catch up with them backstage at one of her concerts.  Mike calls the experience “life-changing for a band that’s relatively new.”  Brother Tom agrees, “Getting thrown into arenas is like, ‘Ready…go!’” Viewers will also follow the group backstage as they make their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and go with them to the empty stage of the Ryman Auditorium, a venue they have their sights on.

All the members of Gloriana agree that their bond is like that of a family.  “The guys feel like brothers to me and Cheyenne is like a sister,” Rachel says.  “Even in our off time we spend time together.  We all have our heads on straight and we’re all about doing this for a very long time together.”

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