Years active 1974-1980 Active until 1980 | Labels Warner Bros. Genres Pop rock, Blue-eyed soul | |
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Past members Ed Sanford
Johnny Townsend
Roger Johnson
Otis Hale
Jerry Rightmer
Jim Varley Origin Alabama, United States (1974) Albums Duo Glide, Smoke From a Distant Fire, Nail Me To The Wall Members Ed Sanford, Johnny Townsend Similar Dan Toler, Pablo Cruise, Peter McCann, Alan O'Day, Kenny Nolan | ||
The Sanford-Townsend Band was a rock and roll band in the United States. They scored a hit single in 1977 with "Smoke From A Distant Fire".
Contents
History
The Sanford-Townsend Band featured Alabama keyboardists Ed Sanford (from Montgomery, Alabama) and Johnny Townsend (from Tuscaloosa, Alabama), who previously worked together in a Tuscaloosa-based band called Heart (not to be confused with the band of the same name fronted by Ann and Nancy Wilson from Seattle/Vancouver).
After reuniting in Los Angeles, Sanford and Townsend signed a publishing deal with Chappell Music and began writing songs, most notably "Peacemaker" for Loggins and Messina, which was co-written by Sanford and Townsend with Kenny Loggins.
Their 1976 self-titled album started getting attention when "Smoke From a Distant Fire" reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in Cash Box, recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. The album was retitled with the name of the hit song and re-released. The band supported the song by opening for Fleetwood Mac on their Rumours tour, as well as concerts with The Marshall Tucker Band, Charlie Daniels, Jimmy Buffett, Foreigner, Heart and others.
The band's follow-up albums, entitled Duo-Glide and Nail Me To The Wall, were significantly less successful. Sanford and Townsend returned to their careers as session musicians and songwriters.
Ed Sanford co-wrote "I Keep Forgettin'" with Michael McDonald, which appeared on McDonald's debut solo album in 1982.
The band's long-time bassist, Jerry Rightmer died in 2007 at the age of 57 from cirrhosis of the liver, brought on by Hepatitis C. He was survived by his wife and four children.
Former lead guitarist Roger Johnson currently works with his wife in publishing, following 25 years working in the film industry as a video technician and editor subsequent to his time in the Sanford-Townsend Band.
In 2008, John Townsend formed the Toler/Townsend Band with Dan Toler. Townsend's tenor voice remains substantially unchanged from thirty years prior.
Principal Band Members
Albums
Songs
Smoke From a Distant FireSmoke From a Distant Fire · 1976
Oriental GateSmoke From a Distant Fire · 1976
Shake It To The RightSmoke From a Distant Fire · 1976