Ronnie Hammond was the lead singer for successful southern rock band, the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The group itself was born out of a group of in-demand studio musicians from the Atlanta, Georgia area. When the band was recording their first album in 1972, Hammond happened to show up at the studio as an assistant engineer, and once the guys heard him sing, they asked him to join the band. Hammond sang for ARS on their first six albums, during their peak years. In 1978, they released Champagne Jam which included the popular single of the same name. It would become their biggest hit and take them from playing clubs and into arenas and stadiums. In August of that same year, the band was invited by President Jimmy Carter to play at the White House. Hammond left the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career. He reunited with them in 1988 and continued on for the next decade or so. On March 14, 2011, Ronnie Hammond died of heart failure. He was 60.
Joseph Campbell March 27, 1942 – February 21, 2011
Joseph “Red Dog” Campbell was the beloved longtime roadie for the Allman Brothers Band. While in college after returning for Vietnam, Campbell was so moved by the electrifying guitar work in Aretha Franklin’s recording of “The Weight,” that he sought out the young guitar player, Duane Allman. And after seeing the Allmans perform, he offered to go to work for them. He even went as far as to help support the band with his monthly disability checks during their lean early years. Over the next 30-odd years, Campbell was a loyal and hard working member of their crew. He later wrote of his exploits in his memoirs, The Legendary Red Dog: A Book Of Tails. In the 2000 film Almost Famous, the roadie for the film’s fictional band, Stillwater was named Red Dog in honor of Campbell. Joseph “Red Dog” Campbell died of cancer on February 21, 2011. He was 68.
Tommy Crain was, simply put, one of the foundations of Southern Rock. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Crain first took up the piano at just six years of age. After a neighbor soon taught him to play the ukulele, he won a talent contest at his school and decided to devote his life to music. Next, he mastered the guitar and banjo, and began playing in local rock bands throughout high school. During the early ’70s, he formed a band called Buckeye who was invited to play the opening slot at Charlie Daniels’ very first Volunteer Jam Festival there in Nashville. And when Daniels needed a new guitarist about a year later, he hired Crain. Crain played in the Charlie Daniels Band for the better part of the next twenty years and co-wrote more than 50 of the band’s songs including Daniels’ signature tune, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” The song earned Crain a Grammy in 1980. He left Daniels in 1989 to work on his own projects which most recently included Tommy Crain & the Crosstown Allstars. Crain died in his sleep on January 14, 2011, just days before what would have been his 60th birthday. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Bruce Waibel was a rock bass guitarist who played for numerous bands, but most notably, the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, and Firehouse. Basically a professional musician by the time he turned 13, Waibel began his career as a roadie for Gregg Allman who later added him to the band, first as guiarist then ultimately, their bassist. Waibel also played with Rick Derringer and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 2000, he was invited to join Firehouse, with home he played for the next three years, when he left the band to spend more time with his family. On September 2, 2003, Bruce Waibel was found dead in his home of an apparent suicide.
Douglas Allen Woody
October 3, 1955 – August 26, 2000
Allen Woody was a bass player best remembered for his work with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule. Woody joined the Allman Brothers when they reunited in 1989. He played on such albums as Seven Turns, Shades Of Two Worlds, and Where It All Begins. In 1994, Woody and Warren Haynes formed Gov’t Mule, first as an Allman’s side project, then as a full-fledged band in 1997. Woody died of a heroin overdose on August 26, 2000.
Jerry Wexler was best known as a music producer who was responsible for some of the greatest music from the 1950s through the 1980s. He also coined the phrase “rhythm and blues” while he was editor of Billboard magazine before he became a partner of Atlantic Records in 1953. While at Atlantic he either produced or signed some of the all time greats of popular music. That list includes Wilson Pickett, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and the Allman Brothers. He retired from the music business in the late ’90s, and passed away of congestive heart failure in 2008.
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Richie Hayward is perhaps best remembered as the founding drummer for legendary southern rock band, Little Feat. Formed by Lowell George in 1969, the band quickly built a sizable following thanks to their seamless merging of rock, jazz, blues, country and R&B. Albums like Little Feat, Sailin’ Shoes and Dixie Chicken are now classic rock staples while there 1978 live album, Waiting On Columbus, is widely considered one of the greatest live albums ever released. Hayward also kept very busy outside of Little Feat. As a session player, he worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Peter Frampton, Bob Seger, the Doobie Brothers, Robert Palmer, Warren Zevon, and many more. Richie Hayward was 64 when he died of liver cancer on August 12, 2010
Leon Wilkeson was an up-and-coming bassist in and around Jacksonville, Florida when he was asked to join Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1972. Although he didn’t play on the band’s debut album due to his own apprehension, he played with them for the better part of the next 30 years. With his help, Lynyrd Skynyrd became one of the biggest rock bands of the ’70s. In 1977, tragedy struck when the band’s plane crashed killing band members,Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Wilkeson was one of the few passangers who survived. The band undertandably dissolved by reformed with the surviving members in 1987. Leon Wilkeson died of emphysema and liver disease on July 27, 2001.
Guitarist Duane Roland, a founding member of the rock band Molly Hatchet, who had a big hit with their 1979 album, Flirtin’ With Disaster. He stayed with the band until 1990. In later years, Roland played with the Southern Rock Allstars and Gator Country. He died of natural causes in his home at the age of 53.
Ean Evans was most recently the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, having joined the band in 2001, replacing Leon Wilkeson who had recently passed away. Evans started playing the guitar at 15 and in no time he was gigging around the southeast in various cover bands. He later switched to bass. In 1988 he was asked to join the Outlaws by Hughie Thomasson. Thomasson eventually folded the group to join Lynyrd Skynyrd. Wilkeson followed in 2001. He was diagnosed with cancer in late 2008 and died of the disease on May 6, 2009.
Ronnie Hammond was the lead singer for successful southern rock band, the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The group itself was born out of a group of in-demand studio musicians from the Atlanta, Georgia area. When the band was recording their first album in 1972, Hammond happened to show up at the studio as an assistant engineer, and once the guys heard him sing, they asked him to join the band. Hammond sang for ARS on their first six albums, during their peak years. In 1978, they released Champagne Jam which included the popular single of the same name. It would become their biggest hit and take them from playing clubs and into arenas and stadiums. In August of that same year, the band was invited by President Jimmy Carter to play at the White House. Hammond left the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career. He reunited with them in 1988 and continued on for the next decade or so. On March 14, 2011, Ronnie Hammond died of heart failure. He was 60.
Tommy Crain was, simply put, one of the foundations of Southern Rock. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Crain first took up the piano at just six years of age. After a neighbor soon taught him to play the ukulele, he won a talent contest at his school and decided to devote his life to music. Next, he mastered the guitar and banjo, and began playing in local rock bands throughout high school. During the early ’70s, he formed a band called Buckeye who was invited to play the opening slot at Charlie Daniels’ very first Volunteer Jam Festival there in Nashville. And when Daniels needed a new guitarist about a year later, he hired Crain. Crain played in the Charlie Daniels Band for the better part of the next twenty years and co-wrote more than 50 of the band’s songs including Daniels’ signature tune, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” The song earned Crain a Grammy in 1980. He left Daniels in 1989 to work on his own projects which most recently included Tommy Crain & the Crosstown Allstars. Crain died in his sleep on January 14, 2011, just days before what would have been his 60th birthday. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Bruce Waibel was a rock bass guitarist who played for numerous bands, but most notably, the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, and Firehouse. Basically a professional musician by the time he turned 13, Waibel began his career as a roadie for Gregg Allman who later added him to the band, first as guiarist then ultimately, their bassist. Waibel also played with Rick Derringer and 
Allen Woody was a bass player best remembered for his work with the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule. Woody joined the Allman Brothers when they reunited in 1989. He played on such albums as Seven Turns, Shades Of Two Worlds, and Where It All Begins. In 1994, Woody and Warren Haynes formed Gov’t Mule, first as an Allman’s side project, then as a full-fledged band in 1997. Woody died of a heroin overdose on August 26, 2000.
Richie Hayward is perhaps best remembered as the founding drummer for legendary southern rock band, Little Feat. Formed by 
Guitarist Duane Roland, a founding member of the rock band Molly Hatchet, who had a big hit with their 1979 album, Flirtin’ With Disaster. He stayed with the band until 1990. In later years, Roland played with the Southern Rock Allstars and Gator Country. He died of natural causes in his home at the age of 53.
Ean Evans was most recently the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd, having joined the band in 2001, replacing 
The Music's Over 