PROGRAM: 70S ROCK REUNION

Formed from the best of Atlanta’s studio musicians, the ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (actually hailing from nearby Doraville, Georgia) came together in 1970 after working on a Roy Orbison recording session. Keyboardist Dean Daughtry and drummer Robert Nix had been members of Orbison’s backing group, the Candymen, and Daughtry and guitarist J.R. Cobb had been members of the Top 40 hitmakers Classics IV (“Spooky,” “Stormy,” “Traces”). Rounding out the original ARS lineup were vocalist Rodney Justo (replaced after the first album by Ronnie Hammond), guitarist Barry Bailey, and bassist Paul Goddard.

“So into You” became the band’s breakthrough single in 1977, reaching the U.S. Top 10, and the album from which it came, A Rock and Roll Alternative, went gold. Their platinum follow-up album, Champagne Jam, broke into the Top 10 in 1978, together with the blockbuster single “Imaginary Lover.” “I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight” was another major hit from the same album.

ORLEANS is best known as the Pop/Rock band that brought you the classic 70s hits Still The One, Dance With Me and Love Takes Time. Now in its 54th year, Orleans has produced a body of work spanning 17+ albums and 4 DVDs. The band continues to be in demand for live performances, as they have been for the past 5 decades. Led by co-founder Lance Hoppen, brother and long-standing member Lane Hoppen with relative newcomers Brady Spencer, Tom Lane and Tony Hooper comprise the touring band, delivering Orleans‘ music with power, class and integrity to appreciative audiences everywhere.

FIREFALL is an American country rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974. Their radio hits include “You Are the Woman”, “Just Remember I Love You”, “Strange Way”, “Cinderella”, “Headed for a Fall”, and “Staying with It”. 50 years after their debut, founder Jock Bartley and the gang are still going strong, touring the world and bringing their music to the fans. The band was founded by Rick Roberts, former member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin’s replacement in Zephyr. Other members have included Mark Andes, Larry Burnett, David Muse, and Michael Clarke, the latter also formerly of the Flying Burrito Brothers and an original member of the Byrds.

The band released Comet, their first new album in nearly 20 years, and first with Sunset Blvd Records, on December 11, 2020. The album featured a lineup of Jock Bartley, Mark Andes, David Muse, Sandy Ficca and Gary Jones. In 2021 Firefall again did some shows as a trio, this time with Bartley, Jones and a returning Steve Weinmeister on bass, who ended up returning to the group to replace Jones going forward. In 2022 David Muse was sidelined from touring after having once again fallen ill with cancer, that this time took his life on August 6, 2022. Jim Waddell, who had first played with Firefall in 1993, returned to cover for Muse. In July 2022 after Mark Andes retired from the road, current Babys singer/bassist John Bisaha joined the lineup. In 2023 Firefall announced that their latest album, Friends & Family, would feature classic songs from other 1970s bands, including the Doobie Brothers, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Loggins and Messina, the Band, Marshall Tucker Band and more. It was released on September 22.