Ronnie Hammond Dies

Ronnie Hammond, lead singer with the Atlanta Rhythm Section beginning in 1972, died Monday from a heart attack in a Forsyth, Georgia, hospital. He was 60. Ronnie had originally joined Studio One in Doraville, Georgia, where ARS was the house band, as an assistant recording engineer. He was 

recruited after the departure of original singer Rodney Justo. Joining for the group’s second album, he sang on such hits as “So In To You,” “Imaginary Lover,” “Do It Or Die” and “Spooky,” Ronnie left in 1982 for an unsuccessful solo career but returned in 1988, co-writing most of the tunes on their “Truth In A Structured Form” album. In 1998, Ronnie was shot in a confrontation with Macon, Georgia police. He survived, but left ARS in 2001 to join the Voices of Classic Rock tour. Shortly after he retired.