The country vocal group Gloriana began taking shape in 2007, when Tom Gossin and Mike Gossin -- two guitar-playing brothers who had been working as a duo in North Carolina -- moved to Nashville and met Rachel Reinert. The trio's vocal chemistry was obvious from the start, and they completed their lineup with the addition of singer/mandolinist Cheyenne Kimball, a former child prodigy who had starred in several TV shows (including her own MTV reality series) and briefly pursued a solo career with Epic Records. Together, the group honed a commercial sound inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Alabama, and the Caifornia country-rock movement of the 1970s, with their four-part harmonies playing a central role.
Gloriana eventually sent a demo to Emblem Music Group, a label that had been recently founded by producer Matt Serletic. Serletic liked what he heard, signed the quartet, and offered to produce their first record. Gloriana, the resulting self-titled debut, appeared in 2009. Country audiences flocked to the album, sending it to number two on the country charts and earning the quartet several awards, including "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" at the annual American Music Awards and "Top New Vocal Group" at the 2010 Academy of County Music Awards. ~ Steve Leggett & Andrew Leahey
