The Atlanta Rhythm Section in 1977: J.R. Cobb, Ronnie Hammond, Barry Bailey, Paul Goddard, Robert Nix and Dean"Ox" Daughtry.They are usually never mentioned in the same breath as “Southern Rock” contemporaries like the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band, Molly Hatchet, or the Outlaws.
The genesis of “ARS” started with Buddy Buie. An extroverted songwriter/producer and seemingly endless source of energy, he had penned hits for the Classics IV including “Spooky” and “Traces.” Eager to start his own thing, he began scouting for and working with talent from a wide variety of Southern and acts including Roy Orbison’s former backing group, the Candy Men .
Their 1972 self-titled debut didn’t go anywhere and Justo—frustrated by lack of opportunities and with a better paying gig lined up—left the group. He was replaced by the shy Ronnie Hammond, who would later struggle with alcohol and depression. ARS finally got a minor hit with an ode to their hometown, “Doraville,” off their third album, the cynically titled. It would take another three albums for “So Into You” to become their first major chart buster.
“The show was cancelled at 9:30 p.m. A crowd of about 10,000 started throwing stuff at me when I made the announcement from the stage,” production manager Jeff Jackson recalls. “Lesson learned—don’t give people bad news from center stage; go behind the P.A.”