Barefoot Jerry was a Nashville-based Southern rock and progressive Country band active from 1971-1977. It was composed of area studio musicians under the tutelage of Wayne Moss, lead guitarist of Area Code 615, and other 615 alumni.
Moss had previously played in many sessions, including Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde and plays the iconic guitar riff on Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman. In addition to Moss, band members included: Terry Dearmore, Kenny Buttrey, Jim Colvard, Dave Doran, Si Edwards, Mac Gayden, John Harris, Warren Hartman, Russ Hicks, Kenny Malone, Charlie McCoy, and Fred Newell.
Barefoot Jerry's first line up consisted of: Wayne Moss guitar/keyboards/vocals, Mac Gayden - guitar/keyboards/vocals, Kenneth A. Buttrey - drums, and John Harris - keyboards.
Moss, Buttrey and Gayden (who wrote the number one UK hit by The Love Affair, Everlasting Love) had all been in the Grammy award winning Nashville supergroup Area Code 615. They originally played together on many of Monkee Michael Nesmith's Nashville sessions. They enjoyed the experience so decided to form Area Code 615.
This line up of Barefoot Jerry recorded the superb Southern Delight before Gayden left in 1972 to form his own band - Skyboat; Buttrey joined Neil Young's band. Wayne Moss and John Harris were soon joined by Russ Hicks - guitar/steel guitar/horn/vocals and Kenny Malone - drums for the equally breathtaking "Barefoot Jerry" released on Warner Brothers in 1972. This line up later expanded to include: Buddy Skipper-keyboards, Fred Newell - banjo/harmonica/vocals ,Dave Doran - guitar/bass/vocals, Si Edwards – percussion, and (Area Code's) Bobby Thompson - bass/guitar/vocals for the last of their "classic albums" and their first for Monument "Watchin' TV" in 1974.
The line up of Moss, Hicks, Doran, Edwards, Skipper and Newell from this period are captured live on the recently released "Barefoot Jerry Live" CD. Wayne Moss became the last original member of the band. Retaining Russ Hicks and Si Edwards, they added Terry Dearmore - vocals, guitar/bass, Jim Colvard - guitar/bass and Warren Hartman – keyboards. In 1975 they recorded "You Can't Get Off With Your Shoes On". Colvard took his own life in 1976.
With the departure of Warren Hartman, guitarist Barry Chance and Steve Davis -keyboards/guitar/vocals, joined the band for what is considered their weakest album "Keys to the Country" in 1976. Davis and Dearmore departed and longtime barefoot alumni and Area Code 615 legend Charlie McCoy - keyboards/harmonica/flutes/jew's harp and Mike McBride - bass/guitar/percussion/mandolin, joined for a return to form, "Barefootin'" in 1977. In 1977 the band finally ceased recording under that name, leaving behind a legendary Country Rock body of music.
Barefoot Jerry was influential in Southern and Country rock. They are mentioned in Charlie Daniel's (Charlie Daniels Band) tune "The South is Gonna Do It Again." As "all the good people in Tennessee are diggin' Barefoot Jerry and CDB". This band has backed up CDB, Bob Dylan, and The Band as well as many other acts Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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