North Florida Music Hall of Fame

Just when everyone thought grunge was dead, Creed exploded on the scene in 1999 sounding like equal parts Pearl Jam and Metallica. The band’s debut album, My Own Prison, recorded in producer-engineer John Kurzweg’s home studio in Tallahassee and released on the band’s own Blue Collar label, got regional airplay — and national attention — thanks to WXSR’s program director Rick Schmidt. After being re-released by Wind-Up Records (a BMG affiliate), the album went double platinum. Creed’s follow-up album sold a phenomenal 10 million units and its third about the same. The group split in June 2004, with singer Scott Stapp going on his own while the other three original members regrouped as Alter Bridge. Also see Kurzweg, John.