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Atlanta Rhythm Section music biography continued...

Buie as the house band at Studio One, a preeminent Georgia recording studio. The members included singer Rodney Justo, keyboardist Dean Daughtry and drummer Robert Nix, as well as 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 of their own in 1971. A demo of some of their songs got them a two record deal with MCA/Decca, but their first few albums--1972's Atlanta Rhythm Section, 1973's Back Up Against the Wall, 1974's Third Annual Pipe Dream and 1975's Dog Days-- failed to garner much critical or commercial success on the national scene. In 1976, after scoring a strong regional following, the band's lineup changed with Justo being replaced by newcomer Ronnie Hammond. Soon after, ARS delivered the Top Ten single "So Into You," which would be their national breakthrough. The album it was on, 1976's A Rock and Roll Alternative, was the group's first disc to reach gold certification. ARS's commercial peak would come two years later with 1978's Top Ten Champagne Jam, which spawned two hit singles -- "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight" and "Imaginary Lover." To keep up their high profile, the Atlanta Rhythm Section soon became one of the most relentless touring bands of the entire Southern rock genre, and even played at the White House for then-President Jimmy Carter, making them a household name.



Unfortunately for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, their success was fleeting. Each subsequent album -- 1979's Underdog and live set Are You Ready, 1980's The Boys from Doraville, and 1981's Quinella -- sold less than the previous one, resulting in the band's split shortly thereafter. The band reunited for a brief time in 1999, but they did not stay together. However, ten years later, ARS songs continue to be covered by new bands coming up, a sure sign of the merit of their musical output.