Jump to content

The Forester Sisters

From Alfawiki
The Forester Sisters
Company typeVocal group
IndustryMusic
Founded1984
Headquarters
Lookout Mountain, Georgia
,
United States
ProductsCountry, gospel, and holiday-themed albums

The Forester Sisters consisted of four American siblings—Christy, June, Kathy, and Kim Forester—who formed a country music vocal ensemble. Hailing from Lookout Mountain, Georgia, they began performing locally in the 1970s before securing a contract with Warner Records Nashville in 1984. Over the period from 1984 to 1991, they garnered considerable commercial acclaim, achieving fifteen top-ten placements on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Among these were five chart-topping singles: "I Fell in Love Again Last Night", "Just in Case", "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes", the collaboration with The Bellamy Brothers, "Too Much Is Not Enough", and "You Again". The group received the Academy of Country Music Group of the Year accolade in 1986 and earned three nominations for Grammy Award. Their body of work spans country, gospel, and holiday-themed albums.

Characterized by four-part harmonies predominantly led by Kim or Kathy, their musical approach invited comparisons to other family-oriented country acts such as the Judds and the Whites. Critical opinions varied regarding their output. The sisters ceased active recording and touring in 1996 to focus on alternative professional pursuits.

Early life

The Forester Sisters—Kathy (born January 4, 1955), June (September 22, 1956), Kim (November 4, 1960), and Christy (December 21, 1962)—were all born and raised in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Their parents fostered their musical development through weekly church choir rehearsals, which helped hone their harmony skills.

During the late 1970s, Kathy and June balanced local performances with careers as schoolteachers. After Christy finished college, all four sisters decided to pursue music professionally. They were discovered by songwriters Bobby Keel and Billy Stone at a regional festival and subsequently recorded a demo in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This demo reached Paige Rowden of Warner Bros. Records Nashville, leading to an audition following an opening performance for Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers. Jim Ed Norman—producer and president of Warner Bros. Nashville—signed them late in 1984. Kim later recounted that their initial communication with the label was mistaken for a prank call.

Career

Their first single, "(That's What You Do) When You're in Love", released mid-1985, climbed to number ten on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This track was part of their self-titled debut album launched later that year. From this album emerged three additional singles that reached number one by 1986: "I Fell in Love Again Last Night", "Just in Case", and "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes". Muscle Shoals songwriters Terry Skinner and J. L. Wallace produced the record and co-wrote "When You're in Love" alongside Ken Bell; they also penned "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes". The song "Just in Case" originated from members of Exile, J. P. Pennington and Sonny LeMaire, having appeared on Exile's 1984 album Kentucky Hearts. Warner Bros. Nashville reported sales exceeding 100,000 copies for "I Fell in Love Again Last Night". The sisters received nominations from the Academy of Country Music for Vocal Group of the Year consecutively in 1985 and 1986, winning the award in the latter year. Their debut album was also nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards. The album's success facilitated extensive touring alongside artists such as Alabama, George Jones, and Ricky Skaggs, covering thirty-five states. A People magazine review highlighted their strong country influence blended with a warm gospel touch on tracks like "The Missing Part". At this time, Kathy resided with her husband and manager Terry Adkins while her sisters lived with their parents.

Their sophomore album, Perfume, Ribbons & Pearls (1986), yielded one notable single: "Lonely Alone", which held the number two position on Hot Country Songs for two weeks. Esteemed songwriters such as Pam Tillis, Bob McDill, and Walt Aldridge contributed material. Skinner and Wallace returned as producers. People magazine commended the sisters' vocal performances describing the album as both heartwarming and energizing. Conversely, Cliff Radel of The Cincinnati Enquirer rated it two out of five stars citing strong singing but lackluster songwriting quality. Lucinda Chodan from Montreal Gazette likened their sound to that of The Judds, labeling most songs as generic but identifying "100% Chance of Blue" and their rendition of The Supremes' "Back in My Arms Again" as standout tracks despite some production critiques. Following "Lonely Alone," the Forester Sisters collaborated on The Bellamy Brothers' late-1986 number-one hit "Too Much Is Not Enough" from their album Country Rap. This success led to their joint Brothers and Sisters Tour in 1987.

Late 1980s

In 1987, the group released their third album You Again, which produced three singles. The lead single was a cover of Brenda Lee's 1965 hit "Too Many Rivers", reaching the top five on country charts. The title track became their fifth number-one hit; it was followed by another top-five single "Lyin' in His Arms Again", both written by Skinner and Wallace. Production duties were shared among Barry Beckett, James Stroud, Emory Gordy Jr., alongside Skinner and Wallace. The album also included "Sooner or Later", later covered by Eddy Raven as a top-ten hit in 1990. Reviewer James M. Tarbox praised its consistent romantic themes combined with a fusion of traditional country and crossover elements. Alongside You Again, they released A Christmas Card, featuring classic holiday carols toward the end of 1987.

Their next studio effort, Sincerely (1988), featured singles such as "Letter Home", a cover of "Sincerely", and "Love Will". It included covers like The Beatles' "I've Just Seen a Face" and Harlan Howard's "These Lips Don't Know How to Say Goodbye", which later became a top-ten hit for Doug Stone. Songwriter Wendy Waldman led production efforts supported by Beckett, Stroud, and Norman. This album earned them a second Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1988. Critics praised its assured sound along with natural sibling harmonies, considering it a high point in their vocal artistry.

In 1989 Warner Bros. issued two albums: first was All I Need, a gospel collection featuring traditional hymns like "Amazing Grace" and "Precious Memories" alongside contemporary gospel numbers such as "This Ole House". Christy Forester described this project as reconnecting with their church singing heritage. Producers Norman, Beckett, and Stroud collaborated on this release. Later that year came a Greatest Hits compilation including two new singles: "Don't You" and "Leave It Alone", both reaching top-ten status on Hot Country Songs charts. By decade’s close, every one of their first fourteen singles had entered the top ten—a notable streak unmatched by new artists since Billboard expanded its country charts during the 1960s.

1990s

Their 1990 release Come Hold Me, produced solely by Waldman, did not achieve significant chart success; its singles—including a rendition of John Hiatt’s "Drive South" featuring The Bellamy Brothers—failed to enter the Top 40. Musicians contributing included Sam Bush, Mark O'Connor, and Willie Weeks. Reviews were mixed: some criticized an overemphasis on rock elements but acknowledged strong vocals on select tracks.

In April 1991 Warner released Talkin' 'Bout Men, produced by Muscle Shoals musician Robert Byrne who infused country rock and Western swing styles into the record. The lead single "Men", co-written by Byrne, peaked at number eight on Hot Country Songs charts earning them their third Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. However, its follow-up single "Too Much Fun" only reached number sixty-two. Critics noted its blend of country pop with gospel influences complemented by robust harmonies.

Their final chart appearances occurred in 1992 with the album I Got a Date. Singles like "What'll You Do About Me" and its title track did not break into Top 40 territory. This release displayed witty lyricism alongside stylistic variety reflecting personal experiences such as Kim’s divorce during recording sessions.

After pausing recording activities mid-1990s to focus on regional performances and family life commitments, they returned briefly in 1996 with More Than I Am, marketed under "positive country" emphasizing spiritual themes without being strictly contemporary Christian music. Produced by Christy’s husband Gary Smith, it featured songs penned by writers including Karen Staley and Paul Overstreet. Following this release, they retired from professional music due to family priorities alongside shifts toward male-dominated industry trends. Subsequent careers have included music education roles, teaching visually impaired students, and interior design work. In 2013 they reunited for a concert celebrating their induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Musical styles

The ensemble’s hallmark is four-part vocal harmonies generally led by Kim or Kathy; however albums like Perfume, Ribbons & Pearls and Come Hold Me showcased lead vocals from Christy or June instead. In a 1985 interview with The Tennessean, Christy explained that their vocal arrangements are driven by what they internally hear musically. Their early experiences singing in church influenced frequent inclusion of a cappella gospel pieces during live performances. Influences cited include artists Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. Thomas Goldsmith from The Tennessean emphasized Kim’s distinctive alto voice as essential to their rich harmonic texture while noting unique themes and instrumentation within singles like "When You're in Love" and "I Fell in Love Again Last Night". A review from People compared Kathy’s and Kim’s voices favorably to those of Terri Gibbs. James M. Tarbox from Knight Ridder News Services applauded how their vocals balance playful charm with thoughtful expression exemplified by hits such as "Too Many Rivers".

Often likened to family groups including the Judds and the Whites, an anonymous review from People described them as “the cheeriest bunch of good old gals... since the Mandrells,” though it noted that absence of male vocals limited harmonic complexity somewhat. Reports from both Billboard magazine and The Tennessean observed that their concerts attracted predominantly female audiences more than male ones. A review of Perfume, Ribbons & Pearls by People stated that alongside the Judds they helped fill a void for female groups within country music during that era. Colin Larkin’s entry in the Virgin Encyclopedia of Country Music characterized their polished sound and image as appealing strongly to country music fans.

Discography

Main article: The Forester Sisters discography
Albums
Number-one singles (U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs)

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Template:Awards table |- |1986 |The Forester Sisters |rowspan=3|Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal |Template:Nom |- |1989 |Sincerely | |- |1992 |"Men" | |}

American Music Awards

|- |rowspan=2| 1987 |rowspan=2| The Forester Sisters |Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group | |- |Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group Video Artist | |}

Academy of Country Music Awards

|- |1986 |rowspan=2| The Forester Sisters |rowspan=2| Top Vocal Group of the Year | |- |1987 | |}

Country Music Association Awards

|- |rowspan=2| 1986 |rowspan=3| The Forester Sisters |Horizon Award | |- |rowspan=2| Vocal Group of the Year | |- |1988 | |}

External links

References

Retrieved from "https://www.alfawiki.org/index.php?title=The_Forester_Sisters&oldid=82169"