Nashville.com Visitors Guide To Nashville, TN
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Member and former drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle has released “Sweet Home Alabama” with Country Music Hall of Fame member and one-half of Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie Dunn as the first single from his forthcoming Get Joe Records studio album Anthems – Honoring The Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album, which boasts 13 tracks, will be released and distributed by BFD/Orchard on February 2, 2024. The release of “Sweet Home Alabama” was released today to coincide with the 46th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that made music history.
Long considered the “wild man” of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle’s powerful and distinctive double bass drumming helped define the legendary Skynyrd sound. Artimus got his first real break at the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam. His first recording lists – Artimus Pyle, percussion. Then, with other work for the Marshall Tucker Band, Artimus became known as a powerful session drummer.
Using his connections with Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker, both acts that often toured with Skynyrd, Artimus met with Ronnie Van Zant and Ed King at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia. The results of that meeting – Saturday Night Special – greatly impressed Ronnie. Artimus’ live debut with the band took place in Jacksonville’s Sgt Pepper’s Club in October 1974. He would replace their original drummer (Bob Burns) following the release of the group’s second album, Second Helping, and performed with the band and on Skynyrd’s following four albums, Nuthin’ Fancy, Gimme Back My Bullets, Street Survivors, and their live album, One More for the Road. Pyle was injured but survived the band’s 1977 horrific plane crash that abruptly ended the lives of six people, including band members Steve and Cassie Gaines and, most notably, frontman and musical visionary Ronnie Van Zant.
“This project has been a year in the making, but when the fans hear it, they will understand why it took so long,” says Len Snow, Get Joe Records president. “Artimus is legendary within the Southern Rock space. The music that Lynyrd Skynyrd made will always live as a part of rock history. This album honors that music and gives Artimus a way to honor his former bandmates.”
Anthems – Honoring The Music Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Track Listing:
I Know A Little – Micheal Ray
Sweet Home Alabama – Ronnie Dunn
Simple Man – Sammy Hagar
Needle And The Spoon – Lindsay Ell
The Ballad Of Curtis Loew – Chris Janson
Workin’ For MCA – Lee Brice
That Smell – Jerrod Niemann
Gimme Three Steps – Marty Raybon
Call Me The Breeze – Billy Ray Cyrus
Saturday Night Special – Warren Haynes
The Hunt – Artimus Pyle Band
What’s Your Name – LOCASH
Freebird – Dolly Parton
