Atlanta Rhythm Section to play at Rome City Auditorium
The Atlanta Rhythm Section will be brining their biggest hits to the Rome City Auditorium on April 27 and local musician Lee Shealy gets to play in front of his family and friends.
If songs like “Doraville,” “Imaginary Lover,” “Champagne Jam,” “Spooky” and “So Into You,” “Dog Days” and “I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight” sound familiar, it’s because Southern rock band Atlanta Rhythm Section was in its heyday in the ’70s and pumped out some great tunes.
The band still plays extensively around the country but will be in Rome on April 27 for a show at the City Auditorium.
Rome resident Lee Shealy is the “newbie” in the band, having been invited a few years ago to join the iconic group.
“It’s surreal at times,” Shealy recently told the Rome News-Tribune. He’s lived in Rome since he attended Berry College. “This is the coolest group I’ve ever been involved with. My teenage years were the heyday of this band. I loved their stuff. It’s one of those things that I would never have seen coming.”
In 2015 one of the founding members of Atlanta Rhythm Section, Rodney Justo called Shealy up. The original keyboardist
for the band, Dean Daughtry, who had not missed a gig in 47 years had fallen and broken his wrist.
“They just needed someone to play keys that weekend,” Shealy said. “Rodney asked me to cover for Dean for that weekend. It was my wife’s birthday and we were in Washington, D.C., so of course I said I’d love to do it but we’re out of town forgetting this band doesn’t just play in the South. When I said that, Rodney said ‘We’re only an hour away from you. I’ll send a car.’ So I asked my wife if that would be OK since it was her birthday. She
was OK with it, so we all got in the car and met the band at sound check.”
Shealy played with ARS for a couple gigs, then he’d sub in for Daughtry every now and again as needed. Daughtry’s farewell gig was in December 2019, and Shealy was officially asked to be the new keyboard player for Atlanta Rhythm Section.
The band’s current lineup consists of Rodney Justo (the only original member) on vocals, guitarists/vocalists Dave Anderson and Steve Stone, bassist Justin Senker, drummer/vocals Rodger Stephan and Shealy on
keyboard. Three of them live near Atlanta and two are based in Tampa, Fla.
The concert will take place Saturday, April 27, at the Rome City Auditorium starting at 7 p.m. Ticket are $55 — Box Seats (VIP), $48 — Floor, $39 — Floor mid section, $32 — Side Seats, $29 — Balcony, $20 — Wheelchair (wheelchair only no seat). Tickets are available online at romeauditorium.com.
“To quote David Green,” Shealy said, “if you don’t have fun, it’s your own fault!” Think of our music as a time machine that takes you back to your happy place.”