Barry Bailey
Barry Bailey | |
|---|---|
 Bailey in 1980 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 12, 1948 Decatur, Georgia |
| Died | March 12, 2022 (aged 73) |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970–2006 |
| Formerly of | Atlanta Rhythm Section, The Candymen |
Barry Bailey (June 12, 1948 – March 12, 2022) was an American guitarist. He served as lead guitarist with Atlanta Rhythm Section from 1970 to 2006 when he retired due to multiple sclerosis.
Early life
[edit]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
[edit]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 1960s 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 33 rpm album was played in 45 rpm, leading to the sped-up vocals sounding eerily similar to Stevie Nicks, and this caused a high demand for it to be released as a single, eventually going to #7 on the Hot 100.
Death
[edit]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 the key to the city of Decatur.[1][6] June 19 was also declared "Barry Bailey Day" in the city.[7]
Bailey died in his sleep on Saturday, March 12, 2022.[8] He was 73.
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Untitled Document". www.rtjwebzine.fr. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- 1 2 3 4 Moseley, Willie G. (2023-01-04). "Barry Bailey | Vintage Guitar® magazine". Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ↑ "Untitled Document". southerngaragebands.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ↑ 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 ..."
- ↑ "The Atlanta Rhythm Section - History". www.atlantarhythmsection.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ↑ "Decatur's Own Barry Bailey to be Honored At Beach Party". The Decatur Minute. June 9, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ↑ "ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION Guitarist BARRY BAILEY Dead At 73 | News @ METAL.RADIO.FM". METAL.RADIO.FM (in Russian). Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ↑ Irwin, Corey (March 14, 2022). "Barry Bailey, Guitarist for Atlanta Rhythm Section, Dead at 73". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 17, 2025.