Award-winning, multiplatinum country music quartet Lonestar is coming to Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe at 8 p.m. July 16.

"Twenty years ago, when we put this little band together to play in some bars and make a little money, I dreamed it pretty good," admits keyboard player and songwriter Dean Sams. "But I never dreamed it quite this good."

Known for merging their country roots with strong melodies and rich vocals, Lonestar has sold more than 10 million albums since its national launch in 1995 and achieved 10 No. 1 country hits including "No News," "Come Cryin' to Me," and their crossover smash "Amazed."

The band's awards include a 1999 ACM Single of The Year for "Amazed" (the song also won the Song of the Year award) and the 2001 CMA Vocal Group of the Year.

But it isn't hit records and trophies that have kept Lonestar going strong.

"Honestly, through it all, the one thing that has kept Lonestar around is that we're just four good old boys from Texas," says lead singer Richie McDonald.

All four members originally hail from blue collar households, and place a premium on the value of hard work.

"No matter how much success we've had, it didn't change us as people," says McDonald.

Originally formed in Nashville in 1992, Lonestar played over 500 shows before landing a recording contract.

"We traveled for two and a half, maybe three years, just playing in bars," says guitarist Michael Britt.

"We were starting from zero back then."

But all those gigs paid off. By the time they released their self-titled debut album in 1995, they already had an enthusiastic fan base.

Their first single, "Tequila Talkin'," went Top 10 on the country charts. Its follow-up did even better: "No News" would be the first of many No. 1 singles for Lonestar.

For all their record and ticket sales, the biggest accomplishment of the band's storied career has been witnessing the impact of Lonestar songs in the lives of others.

"Music is a very powerful tool and can help people going through both good and bad times," says McDonald.

Nowhere has this been more evident than in the group's performances for U.S. armed forces stationed overseas, where classics like "I'm Already There" have elicited powerful emotional displays from men and women who've put their lives on the line defending America.

"When you can truly say that what you do can make a difference, that it really can impact somebody's life in a positive way, that's the greatest thing," says Dean Sams, keyboards and acoustic guitar.

Lonestar released its latest album, "Never Enders," in April. The record was a self-produced effort.

"It's kind of a no-brainer for us to come along at this stage in our careers and say, 'Yes, we can produce our own music.' "

After all, nobody knows what Lonestar should sound like better than Lonestar," says drummer Keech Rainwater.

"I'm proud that as a band, collectively, we're smart enough to know what we need to do and how to get it done."

The new material sounds as thrilling as any of the band's classics.

"The songs we've already recorded, I'm more proud of those than anything we've recorded in our careers," says Britt.

"And not just because they're new. I feel like we're as good or better now than we've ever been."

• Saturday, Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad, 8 p.m.

• July 15, Back to the Eighties Show with Jesse's Girl, 8 p.m.

• July 16, Lonestar, 8 p.m.

• July 21, Old Crow Medicine Show, 8 p.m.

• July 29, Blues Traveler, 8 p.m.

• July 30, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, 8 p.m.

• Aug. 19, The Smithereens and Martha Davis and the Motels, 8 p.m.

• Aug. 24, Ted Nugent, 8 p.m.

• Sept. 9, Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers

• Sept. 29, Trace Adkins, 8 p.m.

• Sept. 30, Jim Breuer, 8 p.m.

• Oct. 1, Blues on the Mountain, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the Penn's Peak Box Office and Roadies Restaurant and Bar. For more information, go to www.pennspeak.com or call 866-605-7325.