On this day in 1972, Alabama gave their first paid performance at Canyonland Park, Alabama. At the time, they were known as Wild Country.

The group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Records for a record deal. Their first album for RCA was 1980’s “My Home’s In Alabama”, which garnered the hits “Tennessee River”, “Why Lady Why” and the title cut.