Big & Rich

Big & Rich formed in Nashville around 1998, when ex-Lonestar vocalist John Rich began collaborating with songwriter Big Kenny (real name: Kenny Alphin, who'd once led an outfit called luvjOi). The duo established a performers' roundtable at a local dive, and the event -- dubbed the "Muzik Mafia" -- soon gained a reputation for its casual eclecticism and notable special guests. The Mafia nights continued over the next few years, running concurrently with solo material issued by both artists, until 2003, when Martina Mcbride recorded Alphin and Rich's song "She's a Butterfly" for her self-titled effort and the duo landed a record deal of their own with Warner Bros.' Nashville outlet. Big & Rich debuted in February 2004 with "Wild West Show," a bold and modern country-rocker that displayed their unique high-low harmony vocals. When the Horse Of A Different Color LP dropped later that spring, its Nashville polish was salted with Muzik Mafia irreverence (sample song title: "Kick My Ass").