Gary LeVox (lead vocals), Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, harmony vocals), and Joe Don Rooney (lead guitar, harmony vocals) are the heart and soul of GRAMMYÒ winning Rascal Flatts, one of the best-selling acts to spring from Nashville in recent years, and also the latest band to add its name to Shure's growing list of endorsing artists.

Riding high and touring on the success of their latest album, Still Feels Good, the band was the top-grossing group of 2006 in all musical genres, selling five million units—a number that translates into the startling fact that one in every 14 country CDs sold that year was a Rascal Flatts record.

"It's hard to put into words how excited we are about this," said Ryan Smith, Regional Artist Relations Manager for Shure, "On a professional level, we've long respected the musical talents of this band. On a personal one, we all feel you couldn't work with nicer people. It's fantastic to be able to welcome them into the Shure family."

Currently out on the road in support of Still Feels Good, Rascal Flatts relies upon a Shure-dominated stage, employing everything from a Beta 52A/SM91 combination for kick drum to UHF-RÒ wireless at the lead vocal position and on guitars. In between, the SM58® captures harmony vocals, while the Beta 98 sees use at toms, and a trio of SM91s transparently introduces a Hammond B3 organ into the mix.

UHF-R systems on the tour use UR4D receivers for both lead vocalist Gary LeVox's UR2/SM58 handheld transmitter and Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus' wireless guitars.

With Rooney and DeMarcus both noting that "The new UR4D has given back what we've been missing in our tone," monitor engineer Stuart Delk unabashedly admits that "UR4D wireless technology excels above all others. The self-scan and sync features, combined with higher output levels and audio quality, can only be matched by using a cable. These qualities alone say a lot about why Shure is in this show."

"The sound going into the beltpacks is exactly what we get back out," FOH engineer Jon Garber says, getting his own two cents worth in on the guitar wireless systems. "It's like the same energy we get out of the guitar cabinets."

Rascal Flatts' current tour will wind across North America throughout the winter and spring months, landing in Sarnia, Ontario, during the peak of Canadian summer on July 12. At this point in their career the band has played the Opry, recorded the song "Life is a Highway" (which was one of 2006's most downloaded tunes), received countless industry awards, and still remains awed by their own success.

"We dreamed some big dreams," says Joe Don Rooney. "We were looking for the rocket ride, but I don't think we ever dreamed of the things that have actually happened to us. It's gratifying, and it's humbling."

Photo Caption: Shure Endorsing Artists Rascal Flatts (From left to right: Joe Don Rooney, Gary LeVox, and Jay DeMarcus)

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