Richie McDonald, best known as the lead singer of Lonestar, has announced his departure from the band for the second time in it’s history. He originally left the band in 2007 to pursue a solo career that failed to yield a Top-50 hit before rejoining them in 2011. This time, he leaves the band to dedicate his time to what was a side project, a band called The Frontmen of Country.
The Frontmen of Country is comprised of McDonald, Tim Rushlow who was once the lead singer of Little Texas, and Larry Stewart, the lead singer of Restless Heart.
“I’ve been with Lonestar for almost 30 years and have enjoyed my time with the guys,” explains McDonald. “With everything that has happened in the past year, it has made me think about other things I want to do in life. This opportunity with The Frontmen came up and I’ve decided to go a new direction. I’ve always enjoyed performing with Tim and Larry and I can’t wait to see how this new chapter unfolds. I want to thank my bandmates Dean, Keech and Michael for a great run. I wish them nothing but the best.”
As The Frontmen, the three lead singers have performed together many times through the years. Restless Heart‘s Larry Stewart is thrilled about hitting the road with McDonald and Rushlow, backed by a full band for the first time.
“The three of us have proudly performed for our country on battleships USS Bush and USS Truman, in the Middle East and even the Presidential Inauguration,” says Stewart. “Touring the United States for country music fans coast-to-coast, backed by a world class band, performing hit after hit, will be exciting and something we have never done together. I’m looking forward to hitting the stage with these two great singers!”
“We are ecstatic to have this amazing opportunity to bring this show on the road and celebrate the music of three of the biggest bands from the ’90s in one night,” adds Rushlow. “I don’t know that I have ever seen three lead vocalists on a tour like this. There’s a common thread that runs through our collective catalog of hits and it will be awesome to sing them all in one concert event!”
The band has announced a series of 2021 tour dates, check them out below to see if they’re coming to a town near you.
The Frontmen of Country 2021 Tour Dates:
April 16 – Grant, OK – Choctaw Casino Resort
April 17 – Sonora, TX – JL Bar Ranch and Resort
Sept 18 – Orange Park, FL – Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts
Sept 25 – Farmington, NM – Farmington Civic Center Theatre
Sept 27 – Yakima, WA – Central Washington State Fair
Oct 1 – Flint, MI – The Capitol Theatre
Oct 2 – Bristol, VA – The Cameo Theater
Oct 8 – Eau Claire, WI – Pablo Center at the Confluence
Oct 9 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre
Oct 23 – Tracy, CA – Grand Theatre Center for the Arts
Oct 29 – Buda, TX – Buck’s Backyard
Oct 30 – Hinton, OK – Sugar Creek Casino
Nov 4 – Whitecap, SK – Dakota Dunes Casino
Nov 5 – Calgary, AB – The Grey Eagle Event Centre
Nov 6 – Rama, ON – Casino Rama Entertainment Centre
Nov 11 – Green Bay, WI – Meyer Theatre
Nov 12 – Milwaukee, WI – The Northern Lights Theater
Nov 13 – Tonawanda, NY – Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center
Nov 14 – Warsaw, IN – Wagon Wheel Theatre