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Hammond, Ronnie (10th November 1950-14th March 2011)

He is a singer who was a member of The Celtics and WAR and worked with The Hampton Grease Band as engineer.

In 1972 he replaced Rodney Justo of Atlanta Rhythm Section and was with them until 1981, returning to them in 1989 and staying until 2001.   He was involved in the “Tributes Route” concerts for Lynyrd Skynyrd and also undertook solo work.

He made a police officer shoot him by threatening him with a hammer and part of a guitar in 1998.  He had been battling with alcoholism and depression, and said it was a suicide attempt from which he survived.

He briefly returned to the Atlanta Rhythm Section after his recovery but in 2001 joined the ensemble group Voices of Classic Rock after the groups’ schedules conflicted and forced him to choose one or the other.

Before long he made the decision to stop touring and concentrate on songwriting and his family instead.  A retirement show was held for him in Macon, Georgia, in December 2002 where he also performed with other musicians that included members of Atlanta Rhythm Section.

He died of heart failure in Forsyth, Georgia in March 2011 when he was 60 years old.

Atlantic Rhythm Section recordings
The Ballad of Lois Malone (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/Dean Daughtry/Barry Bailey)
Champagne Jam (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/J.R. Cobb)
The Great Escape (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/Barry Bailey)
I’m Not Going to Let It Bother Me Tonight (Buddy Buie/Robert Nix/Dean Daughtry)
Silver Eagle (Buddy Buie/J.R. Cobb)

Here he is singing “So Into You” with Atlanta Rhythm Section….

Sources:

  1. http://www.macon.com/news/article28606693.html
  2. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66933398
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta_Rhythm_Section
  4. www.atlantarhythmsection.com/arsStory07.htm
  5. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.music.southern-rock/U3-aWQ2Vuzc
  6. http://parroteyesinc.tripod.com/
  7. https://www.discogs.com/artist/915168-Ronnie-Hammond
  8. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ronnie-hammond-mn0000332398/credits