Often described as a more radio-friendly version of Lynyrd Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers, the Atlanta Rhythm Section (sometimes abbreviated ARS) was one of many Southern rock bands to hit the upper reaches of the charts during the late '70s.

The story of the Atlanta Rhythm Section began in Doraville, Georgia, a small town northeast of Atlanta, in 1970. Local Atlanta engineer Rodney Mills built a new studio in Doraville with the support of music publisher Bill Lowery, producer/songwriter/manager Buddy Buie, and songwriter/guitarist J.R. Cobb. The studio was named, Studio One, and would become one of the preeminent studios in the Atlanta area.

The Atlanta Rhythm Section originally came together as the house band at Studio One. Buie recruited three musicians he had worked with previously in the Candymen, a group that had backed Roy Orbison: singer Rodney Justo, keyboardist Dean Daughtry and drummer Robert Nix. Buie, Cobb and Daughtry had been part of the group the Classics IV. Two talented local session players also joined: guitarist, Barry Bailey and bassist, Paul Goddard. These musicians played on a number of other artists' records and the decision was made to make an album on their own in 1971.

Buie wanted the best players doing his songs as a guitar based band, and he wrote, produced and managed the group from the start. Buie, Daughtry and Nix did a lot of the songwriting together. ABS would play on others' albums three to four days a week and then work on their own material. Over the next couple of years they pulled together enough material for an album and got themselves a two-record deal with MCA/Decca Records, and so ARS officially began.

Their first album was released in 1972, and generated some critical interest for the quality of the songs and musicianship. But there was also some questioning of the idea of a rock band made up of a group of studio musicians who hadn't paid their dues on the road. The album didn't produce any hit songs, so the group continued to play on other records made at Studio One.

• It was during the recording of their first album that Ronnie Hammond came to Studio One as an assistant engineer for Rodney Mills. He was skilled on multiple instruments and most importantly, had a great singing voice. When singer Rodney Justo decided to leave the group in 1972, to pursue a solo career, Hammond became the new lead singer. This grouping would go on to make the next six ARS albums together. They are:
• Ronnie Hammond (Vocals,)
• Barry Bailey (Lead guitar.)
• J.R. Cobb (Guitar, backing vocals.)
• Dean Daughtry (Keyboards, vocals.)
• Paul Goddard (Bass.)
• Robert Nix (Drums, percussion, backing vocals.)

By 1974, the band's pop-oriented songwriting and diverse musical stylings, distinguished them from other southern rock bands, and helped them to develop a regional following.

Atlanta Rhythm Section continued to play live shows, working to solidify their identity and carve out their niche. At the time, the Allman Brothers Band had fallen on hard times and Lynyrd Skynyrd was leading the field of guitar-based southern rock. While ARS shared some musical approaches with these contemporaries, their background as musicians, not performers, and more pop oriented songwriting put them in a unique position, along with but not truly a part of, the southern rock scene.

They played rock, but they also dabbled with country and blues. Their songwriting continued to improve and their musicianship was tighter than ever. ARS tried to be true to themselves and fit into the musical landscape.

In 1976, facing increasing pressure for sales and chart success from their label, it all came to a head. They had been taking three months to record an album, but now were given an ultimatum to deliver the next album in 45 days, or else.

While road-weary from touring non-stop for most of the year, they nevertheless went back to Studio One where they wrote, recorded, and produced the next album, named A Rock & Roll Alternative, in 30 days. It was released in December 1976 and was their first album to be certified gold by the RIAA1

The first single from Alternative, "Neon Nites," got close to the Top 40, peaking at #42. But it was the next single, "So Into You," that proved to be the breakthrough. It rose to #7 on the charts and was a staple of rock radio during the summer of 1977.

For the next several years, ARS was on the road for 250 plus shows a year. And when they came off the road, they were right back in the studio working five days a week. For the first time, the band had popular success to build on, but this also meant increased expectations to top themselves. They worked to produce a focused concept album that would show they were up to the challenge and ended up having their greatest commercial success.

Champagne Jam, released in January 1978, was the breakthrough album that marked the zenith of their music-making.

Eight great songs, all originals, were showcased with the top-notch, smooth, pop production the group had been refining for years. The songwriting and musicianship maintained the superior standards the band had established through its previous albums. The songs continued the pattern of blending beautiful melodies with shifting tempos and each of the songs clocked in at a moderate three to five minutes. The album proved to be very popular, hitting the Top 10 and quickly going Gold. {See note 1.}

"I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight," was released as a single and made it into the Top 20. But it was "Imaginary Lover" that proved to be the band's biggest hit, reaching #7 on the singles chart. A story (possibly an urban legend) has been told of a New York DJ who accidentally played the 45rpm of "Imaginary Lover" at 78 rpm and was inundated with calls asking about the new Fleetwood Mac song. Whether the story was true or not, the single and album both hit the Top 10, with the album ultimately going Platinum. See note 1.

In August 1978, ARS hosted a big festival at Grant Field in Atlanta that they called The Champagne Jam, a celebration of the local boys who had made it big. It was also around this time that ARS played one of their more prestigious venues, the White House. They had become acquainted with Jimmy Carter in his days as Governor of Georgia, and as President he invited them to come play for one of his son's birthday party, held on the South Lawn. "My friends," Carter introduced them, "Not only are we both from the same part of the country, but I remember when they first started that all the critics and commentators said they didn't have a chance, they said the same thing about me." This performance was noted in Time magazine among other places. The studio session men from Doraville had come a long way.

The long road trips and the non-stop pressure of trying to write and record started to get to everyone in different ways. Thier next album, The Boys from Doraville, did not produce a hit single and for the next 20 years the band saw mostly personnel changes and recordings that did not generate much success.

In 1998, singer Ronnie Hammond, who had battled alcoholism and depression off and on over the years, got into a confrontation with the police in Macon, Georgia and was shot by an officer. Hammond was seriously injured, but survived the injury and dealt with the depression. This was a blessing, not just for the man but for all ARS fans, as the group was back in the studio and would soon put out an album of new material including some new classics.

This time ARS only took two years to get a new album out. Eufaula, released in February 1999, was another winner featuring a number of songs that stand with the best of their catalog. State-of-the-art production work, Ronnie Hammond's voice, still in classic form, and the guitar work of Barry Bailey sounded as good as ever.

The band had justifiably high hopes for Eufaula, but almost immediately problems began. The record label, Platinum Entertainment, faced financial troubles and was not able to support the album as intended. A couple of songs were released as singles but did not get the support to break out. The band continued to tour and make personnel changes, largely due to illnesses and deaths.

While ARS never reached the commercial success of Lynyrd Skynyrd or The Allman Brothers, the group had a strong following in the South and charted a number of major & minor hits.

The band maintains a Web site and still tours with some of its original members, playing mostly festivals and other nostalgia-themed concerts.

1The Recording Industry Association of America RIAA is a group which represents the recording industry distributors in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors, which the RIAA says "create, manufacture and/or distribute approximately 85% of all legitimate sound recordings produced and sold in the United States." The RIAA participates in the collection, administration and distribution of music licenses and royalties and is responsible for certifying sales silver (100,000), gold (500,000), platinum (1,000,000), and diamond (10,000,000) albums and singles in the USA.

(Biography partially written by Greg Prato, edited and augmented by bri4daz.)