The Sanford-Townsend Band featured 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.
The band's follow-up albums, Duo-Glide (also credited to Sanford & Townsend) and Nail Me To The Wall (back to the full band name again), were significantly less successful. Sanford and Townsend returned to their careers as session musicians and songwriters.
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.[1]
Former lead guitarist Roger Johnson currently works with his wife in publishing. He had spent 25 years in the film industry as a video technician and editor subsequent to his time in the Sanford-Townsend Band.[2]
In 2008, John Townsend formed the Toler/Townsend Band with Dan Toler. Townsend's tenor voice remains substantially unchanged from thirty years prior.[3]
Principal band members
John Wayne Townsend: lead vocals, keyboards
Ed Sanford: keyboards, vocals
Roger Johnson: lead guitar, backing vocals
Otis Hale: guitar, woodwinds, backing vocals
Jerry Rightmer: bass, backing vocals
Jim Varley: drums
Discography
Albums
Sanford Townsend Band (1976)
Smoke from a Distant Fire (1977) (Credited to just Sanford & Townsend) US #57
Duo-Glide (1978) (Credited to just Sanford & Townsend) US #92
sanford, townsend, band, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, august, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, template, me. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations August 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Sanford Townsend Band was a rock and roll band that scored a hit single in 1977 with Smoke from a Distant Fire The Sanford Townsend BandOriginAlabama United StatesGenresPop rock blue eyed soulYears active1974 1980LabelsWarner Bros Past membersEd SanfordJohnny TownsendRoger JohnsonOtis HaleJerry RightmerJim Varley Contents 1 History 2 Principal band members 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe Sanford Townsend Band featured 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 recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama started getting attention when Smoke from a Distant Fire reached No 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 No 9 in Cash Box and No 13 in Record World The album was retitled with the name of the hit song and re released as just by Sanford amp Townsend 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 Duo Glide also credited to Sanford amp Townsend and Nail Me To The Wall back to the full band name again were significantly less successful Sanford and Townsend returned to their careers as session musicians and songwriters 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 1 Former lead guitarist Roger Johnson currently works with his wife in publishing He had spent 25 years in the film industry as a video technician and editor subsequent to his time in the Sanford Townsend Band 2 In 2008 John Townsend formed the Toler Townsend Band with Dan Toler Townsend s tenor voice remains substantially unchanged from thirty years prior 3 Principal band members EditJohn Wayne Townsend lead vocals keyboards Ed Sanford keyboards vocals Roger Johnson lead guitar backing vocals Otis Hale guitar woodwinds backing vocals Jerry Rightmer bass backing vocals Jim Varley drumsDiscography EditAlbums Edit Sanford Townsend Band 1976 Smoke from a Distant Fire 1977 Credited to just Sanford amp Townsend US 57 Duo Glide 1978 Credited to just Sanford amp Townsend US 92 Nail Me To The Wall 1979 Singles Edit Year Single Chart PositionsUS AUS1977 Shake It to the Right Smoke from a Distant Fire 9 441978 Eye of My Storm Oh Woman References Edit Jerry Lynn Rightmer 1949 2007 Find a Grave Memorial Retrieved 11 23 2014 ABOUT US Memory Works Publishing Retrieved 12 17 2016 Smoke From A Distance Fire External links EditAllmusic entry Smoke From A Distant Fire Songfacts entry Johnny Townsend site Johnny Townsend Myspace Video of Smoke from a Distant Fire on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sanford Townsend Band amp oldid 1126510806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
