GENE JOHNSON

Artists are often warned not to let success go to their head and to not believe their own hype, but the Diamond Rio band members are proof that you also have to know your own worth. Having started out as The Tennessee River Boys in the 80s, they eventually morphed into Diamond Rio in 1989, and the group consisted of vocalist Marty Roe; guitar and banjo player Jimmy Olander; bassist/vocalist Dana Williams; pianist Dan Truman; drummer Brian Prout; and mandolin player and vocalist Gene Johnson. The band has had a string of memorable hits, including 1998's 'Unbelievable' and 'You’re Gone', 2001's 'COne More Day', 2002's 'I Believe', and 2003's 'Growing Up'. For 33 years, the lineup sold over 6.8 million albums and racked up over 1 billion global streams, picking up four CMA Vocal Group of the Year Awards and two group honors at the ACMs. In 2011, their crowd-pleasing blend of country and bluegrass earned a Grammy for The Reason, which won top honors for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album. They've shone just as bright offstage as spokespersons for Big Brothers Big Sisters while also tirelessly championing multiple other charitable causes. Throughout their career, they've helped raise over $1 million for nonprofits, which led to them humbly receiving the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award in 2004. The band has faced challenges along the way, including a health scare for guitarist Jimmy Olander who discovered a lemon-sized tumor in his chest in 1990, but they persevered and continued to entertain fans on the road. In recent years, the lineup of Diamond Rio has changed with new members joining the band. The band's commitment to musicianship is evident in their insistence on playing every note on every album throughout their award-winning career.

66%

The Daily's Verdict

This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.

Bias

10%

Examples:

  • Diamond Rio's success likely helped other acts, like Lonestar.
  • Gene Johnson officially retired from the band in October 2022 due to family matters.
  • The band once faced a situation where they were told their act was too big to be marketable, but persistence paid off and they were eventually picked up by Arista.

Conflicts of Interest

90%

Examples:

  • Diamond Rio's lead vocalist, Marty Roe, is also a volunteer and champion of various charitable causes.
  • The band has donated money and time to organizations such as the American Lung Association, Mid-Western Children's Home, and Both Hands.

Contradictions

95%

Examples:

  • ]The Makah Tribe in Washington has won approval from the US to once again harpoon whales as US waives conservation law.[/
  • The Makah Tribe in Washington has won approval from the US to resume whale hunting for the first time in 25 years.

Deceptions

90%

Examples:

  • Diamond Rio's management initially tried to hide the fact that new members had joined the band.
  • The band has been known to make changes to their songs or performances for commercial reasons.

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Makah Tribe Receives Green Light to Resume Whale Hunting after 25-Year Hiatus

Makah Tribe Receives Green Light to Resume Whale Hunting after 25-Year Hiatus

Broke On: Thursday, 13 June 2024 The Makah Tribe in Washington State, known for its long-standing cultural tradition of whale hunting, has received approval from the US government to resume the practice after a hiatus of nearly 25 years. NOAA Fisheries granted the tribe a waiver under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, allowing them to hunt up to 25 eastern North Pacific gray whales over a decade. The decision marks a significant victory for the Makah Tribe, whose cultural identity is deeply rooted in whaling practices dating back over a thousand years.