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Re: Atlanta Rhythm Section’s Ronnie Hammond dies at 60
http://www.rockaaa.com/news/atlanta-rhy … at-60-3803
Atlanta Rhythm Section’s Ronnie Hammond dies at 60
The man the late Ronnie Van Zant said “was the best singer he ever heard” dies in doctor’s waiting room
Reported by Cameron Pirie
Published: March 18, 2011. © Rock AAA.
Ronnie Hammond, singer with Southern Rock legends ARS has died suddenly after being taken to his doctor’s office by his wife in Monroe County, Georgia.
Hammond became ARS front man in 1972 after being spotted by band manager and co-songwriter/vocalist Buddie Buie whilst working as a sound engineer at the renowned Doraville Studios, and went on to feature in many of the bands biggest hits including Champagne Jam, Imaginary Lover and their crossover hit So Into You
His brother Steve, who was also in the band briefly, told the Atlanta Journal:
“When he sang, he was on fire. The band was a close-knit group and they got along relatively well most of the time. Life on the road is challenging so there is going to be conflicts but, overall, they got along great. I think he would thank the Lord for allowing him the opportunity.”
Hammond suffered from bouts of alcoholism and depression led to him leaving the band for a few years in the early eighties, and an incident in 1998 which ended in him being shot by police in Macon, Georgia after he attacked an officer with a broken guitar neck and a hammer.
Tributes to Ronnie have been pouring in with Buie claiming that legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant said Ronnie Hammond was his favourite singer, he added:
“Ronnie was a great singer, who sang with soul and heart, (but) he never thought of himself that way.”
Skynyrd producer Al Kooper who played and produced with both Ronnie’s recalled their relationship wasn’t always smooth:
“Robert Nix, (ARS drummer) played on Skynyrd’s track “Tuesday’s Gone” and Ronnie Hammond and Ronnie Van Zant challenged each other for the same woman on more than one occasion.
“I played on two ARS albums and they backed me up on one of my solo albums. When I heard he passed away, I hit You Tube to see what he looked and sounded like lately and he had aged pretty well. However only he and the keyboard player remained from the original band and that was sad.
(RIP 
)
