The cream of the studio musicians from Atlanta,
Georgia, USA, the Atlanta Rhythm Section (actually from nearby
Doraville, Georgia) came together in 1970 after working at a Roy Orbison
recording session.
Dean Daughtry (keyboards) and drummer Robert Nix had been members of
Orbison's backing group, the Candymen, and both Daughtry and J.R. Cobb
(guitar) had been members of the Top 40 hitmakers, Classics IV. Rounding
out the line-up were vocalist Rodney Justo (replaced after the first
album by Ronnie Hammond), Barry Bailey (guitar), and Paul Goddard
(bass).
The group recorded two albums for Decca Records in 1972, neither of
which made an impact, before signing to Polydor Records in 1974. Their
first album for that company, Third Annual Pipe Dream, only
reached number 74 in the US and the next two albums fared worse.
Finally, in 1977, the single 'So
Into You' became the band's breakthrough, reaching the US Top
10, as did the album from which it came, A Rock And Roll Alternative.
Their followup album, Champagne Jam, went to the Top 10 in 1978,
together with the single 'Imaginary
Lover', after which Nix left, to be replaced by Roy Yeager.
The group's last hit on Polydor was a 1979 remake of 'Spooky',
a song with which Cobb and Daughtry had been involved when they were
with Classics IV. A switch to Columbia Records in 1981 gave the group
one last chart album, Quinella, and a US Top 30 single, 'Alien',
after which they faded from the national scene.
In the mid-90s, the band got back together and re-recorded some of their
best and best known songs. The live-in-studio sound of Atlanta Rhythm
Section '96 presents a different, less polished take on some classic
tunes and captures the sound of their live performances from that
period. Three original band members returned: singer Ronnie Hammond,
guitarist Barry Bailey and Dean Daughtry on keyboards. They were joined
by Steve Stone on guitar, Justin Senker on bass and Sean Burke on
drums. They also also did a second version of these songs with the same line up except for new drummer R. J.
Vealey.
It was around this time that ARS was elected to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. The band was honored at a September 1996 induction ceremony at the Georgia World Congress Center.
In the first part of 2001, lead singer Ronnie Hammond made a commitment to perform with the ensemble touring group Voices of Classic Rock and this led to a parting of ways with ARS. Andy Anderson was brought in to replace him.
Today, the group continues to make concert appearances showcasing not
only their hit songs, their still outstanding musical abilities as
well.
