Barry Bailey

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Barry Bailey
Atlanta Rhythm Section 1977.JPG
Atlanta Rhythm Section in 1977 Bailey is third from left
Background information
BornJune 12, 1948
Decatur, Georgia
DiedMarch 12, 2022(2022-03-12) (aged 73)
InstrumentGuitar
Years active19702006
Formerly of Atlanta Rhythm Section, The Candymen

Barry Bailey was an American guitarist. He served as lead guitarist with Atlanta Rhythm Section from 1970 to 2006 when he retired due to multiple sclerosis.

Contents

Early life

He was born in 1948 in Decatur in Georgia. [1] When he was twelve, his parents gifted him an acoustic silvertone guitar. [2] In the early 1960s teenage Barry played in bands like The Imperials, The Vons and Wayne Loguidice and the Kommotions. [3] [1]

Career

His early work included being a session guitarist, playing on records by Liberace, Frankie Miller and Joe South. [2] In 1970, Bailey played lead on gospel singer Mylon LeFevre "Mylon, We Believe". [2]

In the late 60s Bailey was a guitarist for The Candymen, a pop group that served as the backing band for Roy Orbison at one point and also included J.R. Cobb, Rodney Justo, Robert Nix and Dean Daughtry. [4] In 1970, Bailey joined The Atlanta Rhythm Section, a band that served as the session band for Studio One in Georgia; this band also featured all of his Candymen bandmates. [5]

Their most successful album, "Champagne Jam", provided their biggest song to date "Imaginary Lover", which due to a playback incident on the radio in which the version of the song from the 33rpm album was played in 45rpm leading to the sped up vocals sounding eerily similar to Stevie Nicks, caused a high demand for it to be released as a single, eventually going to #7 on the Hot 100.

Death

In 2005, Bailey was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis but continued to play another year until 2006 when his wife Dawn was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer; his wife died the same year but Bailey did not return to the band as the MS was starting to worsen. [2] The disease eventually made him lose the ability to use his arms. [1] On June 19, 2009, he was given key to the city of Decatur. [1] [6] June 19 was also delcared "Barry Bailey Day" in the city. [7]

Bailey passed away in his sleep on saturday March 12, 2022. [8] He was 73.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Untitled Document". www.rtjwebzine.fr. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Moseley, Willie G. (2023-01-04). "Barry Bailey | Vintage Guitar® magazine" . Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  3. "Untitled Document". southerngaragebands.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  4. Colin Larkin - 2011 The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - Page 2006 " ... 8 September 1946, Kinston, Alabama, USA; keyboards) and drummer Robert Nix had been members of Orbison's backing group, the Candymen, and ... The band, guided by manager/producer Buddy Buie, recorded two albums for Decca Records in 1972, neither of which ..."
  5. "The Atlanta Rhythm Section - History". www.atlantarhythmsection.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  6. "Decatur's Own Barry Bailey to be Honored At Beach Party". The Decatur Minute. 2009-06-09. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  7. "ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION Guitarist BARRY BAILEY Dead At 73 | News @ METAL.RADIO.FM". METAL.RADIO.FM (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-06-17.
  8. Irwin, Corey (2022-03-14). "Barry Bailey, Guitarist for Atlanta Rhythm Section, Dead at 73". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2025-06-17.