One of their biggest albums celebrated a “Champagne Jam,” so it’s only fitting that a local winery will soon welcome veteran Georgia rockers Atlanta Rhythm Section.
The long-running group will bring its jazz and R&B-infused southern rock sounds to Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard and Winery Sunday, May 26.
Promoter Ray Green officially announced the Memorial Day weekend concert with a March 4 press event at Appalachian Beverage. The East Ellijay package store is sponsoring the show, Green said.
“Atlanta Rhythm Section has written, recorded and performed many of the greatest songs in music history. They are true international music superstars and a state of Georgia treasure,” said Green.
The group, originally comprised of notable Atlanta session musicians, was propelled by the southern rock boom of the 1970s in which groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band and Charlie Daniels Band gained followings. During that time, ARS shared stages with such acts as The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger and Willie Nelson while also headlining concert bills, including two music festivals (Champagne Jam I and II) at Georgia Tech’s Grant Field.
Much of their chart success was with smooth, slow songs and power ballads like “So Into You” and “Imaginary Lover,” both of which cracked the Billboard Top 10. ARS is also known for such hits and fan favorites as their remake of “Spooky” (also a hit for The Classics IV, which featured some future ARS members), “Do It or Die,” “Doraville” and “I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight.”
The group has seen many lineup changes through the decades, and most of its original members, including bassist Paul Goddard and guitarist Barry Bailey, have since passed away. The current ARS lineup is led by original lead singer, Rodney Justo, who left the group in 1972 and rejoined first in 1983, then again in 2011.
“I talked to Lee Shealy, who’s their keyboard player, and he said ‘Our shows now are basically greatest hits concerts.’ What you’re going to hear is all the hits one after another,” Green said.
Green, who also promotes the annual Ellijay Songwriters Festival, said this concert will not be a part of the songwriter festival, but it will be happening at the same time as that event.
“The reason we put it on Sunday night during the festival was to bring more people to Ellijay and Gilmer County for the weekend,” said Green. “Ellijay is the perfect location, and Chateau Meichtry is the ideal setting for ARS to perform live in the beautiful north Georgia mountains.”
Known as “The Boys from Doraville” (where they were the session band for the Studio One recording facility), Atlanta Rhythm Section is a 1996 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee. A previous lineup of the group performed in Ellijay as part of Gilmer Arts’ 2005 B.E.S.T. Concert Series.
Green said 274 tickets will initially be sold for the May concert.
“They typically perform for much larger audiences. This will almost be like having a national recording artist in your backyard,” he added.