Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Artimus Pyle Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut Coinciding with "Sweet Home Alabama" Release

Article Contributed by 2911 Media | Published on Saturday, October 21, 2023

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Member and former drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle has released "Sweet Home Alabama" with Country Music Hall of Fame member and one-half of Brooks & Dunn, Ronnie Dunn as the first single from his forthcoming Get Joe Records studio album Anthems - Honoring The Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album, which boasts 13 tracks, will be released and distributed by BFD/Orchard on February 2, 2024. The release of “Sweet Home Alabama” was released today to coincide with the 46th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that made music history. Music enthusiasts can pre-order the physical CD at ArtimusPyle.com.

“Sweet Home Alabama” is available now on all streaming platforms.

In conjunction with the release of “Sweet Home Alabama,” Artimus Pyle has been featured on Circle TV’s Coffee, Country, And Cody, WSMV’s Today In Nashville, RFD’s Market Day Report, WKRN’s Local on 2, Newsmax’s American Agenda, The Tennessean and this weekend on Huckabee Saturday, October 21 at 8/7 CT and Sunday, October 22 at  9/8 CT on TBN, following the Artimus Pyle Band’s Grand Ole Opry debut.

Long considered the "wild man" of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle's powerful and distinctive double bass drumming helped define the legendary Skynyrd sound. Artimus got his first real break at the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam. His first recording lists – Artimus Pyle, percussion. Then, with other work for the Marshall Tucker Band, Artimus became known as a powerful session drummer.

Using his connections with Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker, both acts that often toured with Skynyrd, Artimus met with Ronnie Van Zant and Ed King at Studio One in Doraville, Georgia. The results of that meeting – Saturday Night Special – greatly impressed Ronnie. Artimus' live debut with the band took place in Jacksonville's Sgt Pepper's Club in October 1974. He would replace their original drummer (Bob Burns) following the release of the group’s second album, Second Helping, and performed with the band and on Skynyrd’s following four albums, Nuthin' Fancy, Gimme Back My Bullets, Street Survivors, and their live album, One More for the Road. Pyle was injured but survived the band’s 1977 horrific plane crash that abruptly ended the lives of six people, including band members Steve and Cassie Gaines and, most notably, frontman and musical visionary Ronnie Van Zant.

"This project has been a year in the making, but when the fans hear it, they will understand why it took so long," says Len Snow, Get Joe Records president. "Artimus is legendary within the Southern Rock space. The music that Lynyrd Skynyrd made will always live as a part of rock history. This album honors that music and gives Artimus a way to honor his former bandmates."

Tune in for free on TBN or live stream on TBN.tv. TBN is also available on iOS, Android, AppleTV, Amazon fireTV, and Roku, or download the TBN app on Google Play or the iOS App Store. For more information, visit tbn.org.

Anthems - Honoring The Music Of Lynyrd Skynyrd Track Listing:

    I Know A Little - Micheal Ray
    Sweet Home Alabama - Ronnie Dunn
    Simple Man - Sammy Hagar
    Needle And The Spoon - Lindsay Ell
    The Ballad Of Curtis Loew - Chris Janson
    Workin' For MCA - Lee Brice
    That Smell - Jerrod Niemann
    Gimme Three Steps - Marty Raybon
    Call Me The Breeze - Billy Ray Cyrus
    Saturday Night Special - Warren Haynes
    The Hunt - Artimus Pyle Band
    What’s Your Name - LOCASH
    Freebird - Dolly Parton

LATEST ARTICLES