AlmostBama was formed in late 2022 by visionary and drummer Butch Bellah. "I've always wanted to do an Alabama Tribute Band," Bellah said. "I grew up on their stuff like so many others. You can find countless tribute bands for pretty much any iconic rock band but there are very few country tribute bands and especially tributes to a band like Alabama who not only impacted country but rock as well . If you’re going to pull off any Alabama tune, you have got to have the harmony… it‘s just not Alabama with out them.”
Rolling with the idea, Bellah began searching for the right band members and soon added veteran, Randal Smith on vocals and lead guitar. Even though they knew of each other, they had never played professionally together, the timing now seemed perfect and the two immediately hit it off. They had planned on auditioning several bass guitar players but were immediately blown away with Jay Shannon and his talent. Butch shares, “We not only found our bassist but our front man and lead vocalist as well. At this point, we knew that if you are gonna play Alabama, you gotta have a fiddle in the band, right?” While looking for the perfect fit, they discovered the up-and-coming incredibly talented , 21 year old, Anna Touchstone from the Nashville area who has been playing since age 6. Tim Johns joined the band playing guitar as well as adding some vocals. Rounding out the tenor vocals, keyboard and guitar is the newest member Bill Mathis who is no stranger to the music industry.
Butch Bellah, visionary and drummer, founded AlmostBama in 2022. He's been playing drums since he was 10 years old and was quite active back in the 80's before adult life took over. He's been in bands who opened for Willie Nelson, George Jones, John Conlee, Johnny Paycheck and more. An avid Alabama fan, Butch grew up in Many, LA and spent much of his life in the Shreveport/Bossier City area of North Louisiana. An accomplished speaker, sales trainer and author--he's written two books (The 10 Essential Habits of Sales Superstars and Sales Management For Dummies) He and his wife Angie recently celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary. They live in Hendersonville surrounded by their three children and six grandchildren.
Butch plays Pearl drums and Zildjian cymbals.
Originally from Gary Indiana, Jay’s love of music started at age 10 when his parents gave him his first bass guitar and amplifier. An avid student of the guitar, Jay perfected his craft over many decades to where he is today.
Jay is also an accomplished songwriter, having the honor of two top 25 songs in Europe in the early 2000s, as well as being a studio musician out in Colorado recording for artists all over the country.
Jay has been the front man for many bands over the years. He has performed with the Chamber Singers at Clearwater Christian College. He was named Male Vocalist of the year at the Damon Runyon Repertory Musical Theater and performed at Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL. Jay has also served as praise and worship leader as well as playing drums, bass guitar and electric guitar for over 25 years at various churches. Jay plays acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussion and keyboards,
Jay loves Classic Rock artists and bands particularly from the era of 1966 through to 1986 including LED Zeppelin, Rush, Journey, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob .Seger.
Jay loves performing and loves sharing his talent so that others can smile.
Randal is from Ravenden, Arkansas and started playing guitar at age 7. He has fronted the bands Lost Prairie, Gun for Hire and The Tonky Honkers. He has worked with Claude King (Wolverton Mountain, over 30 top 40 hits), Roni Stoneman (HeeHaw) and many others.
His influences are Chat Atkins, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits and of course Alabama.
His favorite Alabama song is ”I’m in a Hurry.”
Randal lives in Clarksville, TN and is married to Tempie Smith.
21 year old, Anna is from Nolensville, TN and has been playing since she was 6 years old. She has toured with the Nashville area student violin group Music City Strings while in high school. They toured China, Canada and across the US doing choreographed violin shows involving fiddle, folk, and classical styles. She also won top spots in Tennessee‘s All-State orchestra in high school.
Anna is a music student at Lipscomb University, studying with former Nashville Symphony violinist Carrie Bailey. She has also studied with Nashville Symphony violinist Esther Sanders.
When Anna is not performing with AlmostBama is performs at Lipscomb with the Avalon Piano Trio.
Anna plans to have a private teaching studio in the near future.
Tim is from Wabash, Indiana and comes from a long line of singers and musicians. He grew up listening to Southern Gospel in his hometown Baptist church and you could often hear great harmony groups like The Statler Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys and others. He got his first guitar at age 12.
Tim played football, basketball and baseball in high school and later went on to play baseball in college. Even with sports, music always remained close at heart and shortly after college Tim began playing in the midwest in several country music bands with bandmates who played with Tanya Tucker, Moe Bandy, David Allen Coe and Joe Diffie. Tim has also played with Southern Gospel Quartets and recorded at the prestigious Gaither Music Studios.
Tim loves meeting new people and when he is not touring with AlmostBama you can find him playing around Nashville with friends from time to time.
His musical influences are The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Southern Rock and most all 80s and 90s country as well as Motown.
Tim’s favorite saying is ”It is not where you have been, it is where you are going.”
His favorite Alabama song is ”Lady Down on Love.”
He resides in Lebanon, TN with his wife Joyce and daughter Jessica.
Bill is the son of the late, country award-winning singer/song writer Johnny Mathis.
He started learning guitar from his father at six years old and the art of songwriting. He grew up playing gospel music in the family band with his father and mother and his brother.
Music has always been a part of his life. He has released multiple projects including songs that he has written as well as joining several artists playing lead guitar, keyboard, rhythm guitar, and back ground vocals.
Bill says his father was a great influence on him and he is alos a HUGE Elvis fan! Other influences include: Chet Atkins, James Burton, and Glen Cambell to name a few. He has aways loved Alabama and his favorite song is The Closer You Get.
When Bill is home he loves hanging out with friends and smoking a good cigar.
One of his favorite quotes is something his father used to say from the Bible in his own words. "If you're gonna do something, put your heart in it" and he has always tried to live and perform that way.
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