Album Notes

I am a professional songwriter and record producer. Over the years I have written over thirty songs that became hits, but few of them have been as heartfelt and emotional as the song Ronnie Hammond and I wrote one cold January day in 1983.

Ronnie is the lead singer for THE ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION, a group I formed in 1970. We had rented a cabin on Lake Lanier near Atlanta with the intention of writing another hit for ARS but the funeral procession carrying Bear Bryant’s body from Tuscaloosa to it’s final resting place in Birmingham stopped us in our tracks. We were taking a break and turned on the television as Keith Jackson’s haunting voice narrated the scene of thousands lining interstate20/59 to honor their hero. Every overpass was packed with mourning fans and onlookers as we watched mesmerized and misty eyed. Ronnie began softly playing a hymn-like melody on his guitar. At that point we forgot about our mission to write another rock and roll masterpiece and spent the rest of that sad day composing THE DAY BEAR BRYANT DIED.

Twenty-three years later my friend Harrison Parrish [co-founder of Movie Gallery] was having dinner with my wife and me at our home on Lake Eufaula and I played him a dust-covered demo of our old song about the Bear. We had never exploited it and just considered it a proud accomplishment of two Bama fans. Harrison was moved by the song and said he wanted to share it with his friends at his alma mater the University of Alabama. {Class of 1970] This dinner conversation spawned this CD which features our “lost song” and nine other tracks dedicated to the Bama nation.

I want to thank Ronnie Hammond, Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS), Cook and Glen, The Bama Network Band, and Tom Stipe for their creative contributions. Special thanks to Harrison Parrish, Robert Register, The Image Agency and Gloria Buie. My dream is for THE DAY BEAR BRYANT DIED to become an anthem for the Bama Nation. My hope is that this CD will be blasting from your speakers as you and your friends celebrate another Crimson Tide victory.

Thank you for your support.
Roll Tide !!!!!
Buddy Buie

IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL ANDREW RAINER
1986-2006