Southern rock according to Wikipedia is a subgenre of rock music comprising of rock and roll, country music and blues from the Southern United States. Adding to that, Southern rock generally consists of electric guitars and vocals. Now its time to recognize some of those Southern rock bands.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, originally based out of Jacksonville, FL, formed as a band in 1964. They were prominent in the Southern United States during 1973. Unfortunately an airplane crash in 1977 took the lives of three band members including front man Ronnie Van Zant. Gary Rossington an original band member is still with the band today.
The band name Lynyrd Skynyrd, was a mocking tribute to a physical education teacher Leonard Skinner who taught at Robert E. Lee High School. Leonard Skinner was a strict enforcer of the school rules.
Al Kooper of Blood Sweat and Tears produced Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first album from 1973. Hits included “Freebird” and a second helping of Neil Young’s: “Alabama” and “Southern Man,” “Sweet Home Alabama.”
In 1977 Lynryd Skynyrd came out with the album Street Survivors. Hit songs included “Whats Your Name” and “That Smell.” That same year several members of the band perished in an airplane crash shortly after departing from Greensville, SC’s Greensville Memorial Stadium. The Convair 240’s was in route to LSU in Baton Rouge, LA. Band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick were aboard the airplane. Everybody onboard perished.
ZZTop from Houston, TX is an American blues rock trio that formed in 1969. Band members are Billy Gibbons, vocals, guitar and keyboard, Joseph Dusty Hill, vocals, bass guitar and keyboard and Frank Beard, percussion. ZZTop is ranked number 44 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The trio is also noted as a few rock bands of that era that still has its original members. In March 2004 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones inducted ZZTop into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band’s known for their sunglasses. In 1979 ZZTop had the hit “Cheap Sunglasses.” ZZTop’s also known for wearing black clothing and cowboy hats or baseball caps.
In 1973 ZZTop had the album Tres Hombres. The album sold roughly a million copies. The song “La Grange,” is about a bordello in La Grange, TX. The musical “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” was also devoted to that song. The album El Loco came out in 1981. Eliminator followed in 1983. MTV aired music videos of “Gimmie All Your Lovin,” “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” In one of the music video’s, a 1933 Cherry Red Ford Coupe- the Eliminator was featured.
The Marshall Tucker Band from Spartanburg Southern California formed in 1971. The Mashall Tucker Band was considered a soul, blues, jazz and country band. They did help establish the southern rock genre of the early 1970’s. They’re a legend for their live performances. The band also had a string of gold and platinum albums. Band members are Toy Caldwell, lead guitarist and vocals, Doug Gray, keyboard player and vocals, George McCorkle, rhythm guitar and Paul Riddle, drums. Their first album was released in 1973. The album was named after the band, The Marshall Tucker Band. It was certified gold in 1975. “Can’t You See” was a hit on that album.
The name of the band came from a warehouse doorkey named “Marshall Tucker.” A band member noticed the doorkey during rehearsal at the warehouse.
The Marshall Tucker Band came out with the album A New Life in 1974. Charlie Daniels known from the Charlie Daniels Band joined the band shortly after the release of A New Life. In 1974 the double album We All Belong featured blues guitarist Elvin Bishop. The album Searchin for a Rainbow reached gold certification. “Fire on a Mountain” was a hit on that record. The Carolina Dreams album was their most commercial successful album from 1977. “Heard It In a Love Song” was a hit from that album.
In 1980 The Marshall Tucker Band came out with Running Like the Wind. Shortly after the album release, Tommy Caldwell died in April from an automobile accident. The band was unable to capture success afterwards. Charlie Daniels said The Marshall Tucker Band was known to come on stage and blow it out from start to finish.
The band .38 Special originated in Jacksonville, FL in 1975. Band members are Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant (brother of Ronnie Van Zant from Lynyrd Skynyrd). .38 Special is known from the 1980’s as a southern rock and arena rock band. They’re known for their hits: “Hold On Loosely,” 1981, “Caught Up In You,” 1982 and “If I’d Been The One,” 1983. In 1977 they released the album after their group name, .38Special. The album Wild Eyed Southern Boys was released in 1981 and recognized on the Album Rock Tracks Chart by Billboard Magazine. Albums Special Forces, 1982, Tour de Force, 1984 and Strengthin Numbers (reached Gold), 1986 were released.
The band Molly Hatchet is also from Jacksonville, FL. They formed in 1971. The band’s known for the song “Flirtin with Disaster,” same album title. Band members are Dave Hlubek and Steve Holland. The name “Molly Hatchet” depicts a prostitute who allegedly mutilated and decapitated her clients. The band’s influence comes from bands Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special.
Ronnie Van Zant original lyrics singer from Lynyrd Skynyrd helped write, arrange and direct rehearsals for Molly Hatchet. He was to produce Molly Hatchet’s album. In fact the first demos were cut in the Lynyrd Skynyrd eight track recording studio. Molly Hatchet also used Lynyrd Skynyrd’s equipment during the demo cut. Dave Hlubek said the demise of Lynyrd Skynyrd who was at the height of their success opened the door for Molly Hatchet. The band grew their southern influence and development on a southern rock genre. Molly Hatchet’s music expressed the values and hopes of the 1970’s era young adults of the South metro Jacksonville area. Molly Hatchet’s first album named after the band was released in 1978. The album Flirtin with Disaster was released in 1979.
The band Little Feat originated in Louisiana in 1969. Little Feat’s known as a rock and roll, blues, country and folk band. Band members are Lowell George, lead vocals and guitar, Bill Payne, keyboard, Roy Estrada, bass and Richie Hayward, drums. Lowell George was a former member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. The band name Little Feat came from a comment by Jimmy Carl Black who commented on Lowell George’s small feet. “Feat” was a nod to the Beatles.
So three legends exist of how Little Feat became a band. 1. Lowell George played Frank Zappa a song called “Willin.” Frank Zappa felt George had musical talent. He suggested that George should form his own group. 2. Lowell George was playing a guitar for 15 minutes minus the amp. This upset Frank Zappa. 3. “Willin” contained drug references. Anyway Frank Zappa got Lowell George a record contract. “Willin” was recorded on Little Feat’s album of the same group name.
The second album Sailin Shoes included the album cover’s art by Neon Park. The first and second albums both had universal acclaim. “Willin” was popularized on Linda Ronstadt’s album Heart Like aWheel. Dixie Chicken from 1973 was Little Feat’s most popular album. In July of 1979 George Lowell was found dead in a hotel room at Arlington, VA. His death was from an apparent heart attack.
Blackfoot formed as a band in Jacksonville, FL during 1970. Band members are Greg T. Walker, bass and backup vocals, Jackson Spires, drums and backup vocals and Rickey Medlocke, lead vocals. The name of the band depicted several band members native American heritage. In January 1979 Blackfoot released the album Blackfoot Strikes, the bands most commercial successful effort. Hits included “Train, Train” and “Highway Song.”
The Allman Brothers Band originated in Macon, GA. Band members are Duane Allman, lead guitar, Gregg Allman, vocals and organ, Dickey Betts, lead guitar, rhythm guitar and vocals, Berry Oakley, bass and Butch Trucks, drums. The Allman Brothers Band are known as the principle architects of Southern rock.
During 1971 George Kimball of Rolling Stone Magazine commented about The Allman Brothers Band as “the best damn rock and roll band this country has produced in the past five years.” From 1971-2005 the band had eleven Gold and five Platinum albums. Rolling Stone in 2004 recognized The Allman Brothers Band as the 52nd of a list of 100 greatest artists of all time.
The Allman Brothers Band’s first album named after the group received critical acclaim as a blues-rock album. The song “Dreams” provided framework for some of their live concerts. Their Idlewild South album released in 1970 also received critical success. Songs like “Revival” and “Midnight Rider” were more adept as shorter, radio-friendly song forms. After the release of Idlewild South, Duane Allman joined the band Eric Clapton’s Derek and the Dominos on the recording classic Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
During 1971 the band released the album, At Fillmore East. It was recorded at the legendary rock venue Fillmore East. Again Rolling Stone magazine listed the album At Fillmore East as one of Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The band had a mix of jazz, classical music, hard rock and blues. Greg Allman’s known for his Ray Charles like vocals and piano/organ play which complimented the band’s wall of sound.
Duane Allman died shortly after the release of At Fillmore East of a motorcycle accident in Macon, GA. Berry Oakley died shortly afterwards in November 1972 of a motorcycle accident as well. His accident occurred within blocks of Duane Allman’s deadly accident.
The Charlie Daniels Band is known for the song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Charlie Daniels is a singer, guitarist and fiddler. In 1964 he wrote the lyrics to “It Hurts Me” which Elvis Presley recorded. Charlie Daniels also played in three of Bob Dylan’s albums of 1969 and 1970.
Charlie Daniels Band’s first album named after the artist was released in 1971. The second album, Honey in the Rock was released in 1973. The hit “Uneasy Rider,” reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 series. During 1974 Charlie Daniels organized the Volunteer Jam concerts in Nashville, TN. In 1975 the band had the top 30 hit, “The Souths Gonna Do It Again” and “Long Haired Country Boy.”
During 1979 the Charlie Daniels Band won a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance. The song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” was ranked number three on the charts. Afterwards Charlie Daniels became a crossover success on rock radio stations, especially after the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. A version of a song is included in the Guitar Hero’s 3 video game: Legends of Rock.
In January 2008 Charlie Daniels was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Charlie Daniels still tours reguarly.
Creedance Clearwater Revival (CCR) gained popularity during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Band members are John Fagerty, lead vocals and guitar, Tom Fagerty, rhythm guitar, Stu Cook, bass and Doug Clifford, drums. Their rock and roll was known to swamp rock genres of southern rock style. CCR was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. They also sold a total 26 million albums.
During 1968 CCR’s album, named after the group, had the hit “Suzie Q” which aired on AM radio within the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago’s WLS. The song reached number eleven nationally. “I Put a Spell On You” reached number 58.
Bayou Country released in 1969 was CCR’s second album which reached number seven as a platinum hit. Hits included “Proud Mary” and “Born on the Bayou” which reached number two on the national Billboard chart. “Born on the Bayou” was also the group’s most-covered song. There are 100 covered versions of “Born on the Bayou” by various artists including Ike and Tina Turner from 1971 and BobDylan from 1969. Also during 1969 “Bad Moon Rising” and “Lodi,” second on the charts, were released.
Green River was CCR’s third album from 1969. The album went gold/single. “Green River” was number two in the charts. “Commotion” was about the perils of city life.
CCR performed at the Atlanta Pop Festival and Woodstock. However their set wasn’t included on the original film or soundtrack of Woodstock. John Fagerty felt their performance was subpar. Plus they weren’t able to play the Woodstock stage until 3a.m. The Greatful Dead extended their playtime which pushed back CCR’s stage act. When the time came for CCR to take the stage, most of the audience was asleep
The Cosmo’s Factory was considered CCR’s finest album of 1970. The album title was in reference to a joke about various rehearsal facilities and factory work ethics. CCR never reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Hits. They did have five number two singles.
Further information on the above Southern Rock Bands is available on the Web.
