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Houston County band to film video in downtown DothanOct 10, 2009 (Dothan Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- John Milldrum and brothers Zack and Adam Hooper spent weekends collaborating on songs, writing lyrics and creating music. Zack and Adam would drive six hours from northeast Georgia to Dothan to work with Milldrum. There was no pressure to write what others wanted; they wrote what they wanted to write. "We were just writing," Adam, 26, said. "We loved what was coming out of it." That was three years ago. Today the trio, known as Houston County, has released their first single, "I Can't Make it Rain," and is preparing to film the music video for the song. Milldrum, 38, was an original member of the group Course of Nature. The Hooper brothers were in a rock band called Cloud 10 and played with Course of Nature eight years ago. The two groups were managed by Ronnie Gilley. But Milldrum left Course of Nature, and the Hoopers took a break from music to work in their father's Cleveland, Ga., restaurant. When Gilley heard the three were collaborating on country songs, he wanted to hear the music. Gilley was impressed. The group was signed to Stroudavarious Records, a division of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. Gilley, the developer of Country Crossing and BamaJam music festival, said he's hopeful for big things from Houston County, whose first single came in at No. 54 on Billboard's country music chart. The group's name is an ode to Houston County, Ala., where they feel they found their voice as a musical trio and where they all live now. The guys thought it appropriate to film their first music video in Dothan. An open casting call was held Friday for anyone interested in appearing in the video, which will be filmed on Tuesday. A singer himself, 19-year-old Brandon Barker of Eufaula came to the casting call after his mother called him about it. He wasn't familiar with the group Houston County. "I didn't know what it was all about," Baxter said. Many people didn't know quite what to expect, it just seemed like something fun to do. Emily Besaw of Enterprise came to the casting call at Holiday Inn South with experience. The 25-year-old has been an extra in movies, internet television shows, rap videos and has performed with the Southeast Alabama Community Theatre. "Everybody wants to be a star," Besaw said. " ... That's why everyone auditions for plays, movies and TV shows." Some people will be chosen for specific scenes. Others will be in a concert scene to be filmed Tuesday evening. Trey Fanjoy -- a CMT award-winning director who has worked with artists such as Keith Urban, Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts -- is directing the video. "We like the challenge first and foremost," 28-year-old Zack Hooper said. "We're anxious to see the outcome." To see more of The Dothan Eagle or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dothaneagle.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Dothan Eagle, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |