Robert Nix (November 8, 1944 May 20, 2012) was an American drummer best known as a founding member of the rock band
Atlanta Rhythm Section
Atlanta Rhythm Section (or ARS) is an American Southern rock band formed in 1970 by Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitar), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards), Robert Nix (drums) and J. R. Cobb (guitar). The band's current ...
(ARS). A member of ARS from 1971-1979, he co-wrote several of their songs including the top-ten hits "
So Into You" and "
Imaginary Lover
"Imaginary Lover" is a 1978 hit single by the Atlanta Rhythm Section, the first release and greatest hit from their album ''Champagne Jam''.
The song reached #7 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and #9 in Canada. It is the group's second greatest ...
".
Nix grew up in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
and graduated from Paxon Senior High School in 1962. He got his start as a member of
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...
's backing band
The Candymen
The Candymen (or the Candy Men) were an American pop quintet active 1965-1972 which prefigured the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The group were managed by Dothan, Alabama producer-songwriter Buddy Buie, and included guitarists John Rainey Adkins (who w ...
, and also played on recordings for artists including
The Classics IV,
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom ( ...
, and
Al Kooper
Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt; February 5, 1944) is a retired American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears, although he did not stay with the group long enough to share its popularity. ...
. Nix also co-wrote songs for other artists, including
Billy Joe Royal
Billy Joe Royal (April 3, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American country soul singer. His most successful record was " Down in the Boondocks" in 1965.
Life and career
Born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Clarence and Mary Sue Smith Royal, and rai ...
's "
Cherry Hill Park
"Cherry Hill Park" is a song written by Robert Nix and Billy Gilmore, arranged by Buddy Buie, James Cobb, and Emory Gordy, Jr., and produced by Buie and Bill Lowery.
Content
The subject of the song is one Mary Hill, a girl who frequents the ...
" and
B. J. Thomas' "Mighty Clouds of Joy".
In later years Nix suffered from diabetes and multiple myeloma, and died on May 20, 2012, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, from complications following surgery the previous month. He was 67.
External links
Sept 2008 "Bands of Dixie" article by Robert NixNov 2008 "Bands of Dixie" interview with Robert NixObituary at Ultimate Classic RockObituary at Jacksonville.comObituary from Wells Funeral Home
1944 births
2012 deaths
American rock drummers
Atlanta Rhythm Section members
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