More than just a "tribute" to Lynyrd Skynyrd a tribute to the man that defined it. Artimus Pyle has said " If it wasn't for Ronnie, no one would know my name." Since his departure from Skynyrd in 1991 , Artimus Pyle's career has led him down an amazing path of solo records and projects culminating into one the finest tributes to southern rock royalty. The Artimus Pyle Band is a high energy, true to the music, and true to the era rock group. One of the few that is on the road today. Artimus Pyle, Scott Raines, Jerry Lyda, Thane Shearon, Barry Lee Harwood, and Shannon Wickline are not only a group of friends and contemporaries but a group with some of the most seasoned musicians in the southeast.
Artimus Pyle - Drums
2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
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 band's Volunteer Jam. His first recording lists — Artimus Pyle, percussion. Then, along 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 VanZant 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 occurred in Jacksonville's Sgt Pepper's Club in October 1974. The gig, a show to raise money and awareness for Jacksonville's food bank, was hot. Everyone remembers the band walking through the front door and into a crush of people who doubled the legal occupancy of the club. Playing under the hot lights in an over-packed club with an underpowered air conditioner made for a memorable night When Bob Burns left the band permanently following Skynyrd's first European tour in December 1974, Artimus quickly got the nod as Skynyrd's new drummer.
The years Artimus played with Skynyrd solidified the legend behind the band. Quickly developing into one of the nation's top touring draws with a grueling schedule of 300 shows a year, the constant work and touring paid off. By October 20, 1977, Skynyrds songs had become radio staples.
Scott Raines – Guitar
"Scott knows Skynyrd in and out."
Scott Raines grew up in Slocomb, AL. He started playing guitar at the age of 9, learning by ear the music of Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, and the like. He has performed with bands, played studio sessions, and performed solo acoustic/vocal gigs ever since.
Though his roots are in classic rock and roll, Scott's vast experience has given him the ability to cross genres easily. He loves to jam with everyone, declaring that music is conversation with many dialects. "I learn something from everyone", he declares. Scott is also a songwriter. He enjoys collaboration and admits that music and arranging is where his strength lies.
Scott married his wife, Michelle in 2000 and they have 2 daughters, Jordan and Chloe.
Scott also enjoys investing (real estate and stock market), commercial real estate brokerage, running, biking, and outdoor activities. He is an active Rotarian and prioritizes community service and serving abroad, volunteering for mission trips when opportunities arise.
Jerry Lyda – Guitar
"Forget the ego because I promise you don't have to go far to find players that are better."
Jerry Lyda started playing in rock cover bands in the early '80s, touring the Southeast club circuit. The late '80s formed a country band called The Colts, again touring the Southeast US opening shows for Kenny Chesney, Johnny Paycheck, John Anderson, Wade Hayes, and many others.
Jerry owns and operates Music City Asheville, the leading music store in western North Carolina. Jerry's versatile guitar style and the raw power of his Les Paul add the perfect compliment to Scott's rich strat sound. This dynamic makes THE sound fans of the band expect. "Playing with Artimus has been a complete pleasure and continues to be. To be able to play that music with the man that helped create it is pretty special."
When asked why Skynyrds's music has stood the test of time: "When things are real, people tend to relate much better. If you listen to any of the Skynyrd stuff that Ronnie wrote, you can almost see yourself in the situation he's writing about because it's about normal everyday life."
Thane Shearon – Lead Vocals
The Artimus Pyle Band is proud to introduce Thane Shearon on lead vocals. Thane is no stranger to the band as they have performed several times together. In addition, Thane fronted the Saturday Night Special Band with Artimus, Ed King and two of the original 'Honketts' Jo Jo Billingsly and Leslie Hawkins in the mid 2000's. Ed was quoted in an interview saying in part "As a matter of fact, I haven't heard anybody sing the old Skynyrd songs as well as Thane".
Thane grew up in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, just south of Nashville, and still lives in the area. He has worked with many artist in his career as a singer, song writer and guitar player. He was one of the founding members of Cold Truth recording 3 albums, the last of which was distributed by Blue Rose Records. He contributed lead and backing vocals on the Artimus Venomous record, was one of the lead vocalist in the band the Dixie Tabernacle along with Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie) and Doug Phelps (Kentucky Headhunters) and worked with Greg Martin (Kentucky Headhunters) on a Blues project in the Greg Martin Group.
Thane is a southern rocker with deep Lynyrd Skynyrd roots and will bring it all on stage with the Artimus Pyle Band.
Barry Lee Harwood – Guitar/Vocals
Singer/Songwriter - acoustic, electric, slide guitars – Dobro, mandolin
The Rossington Collins Band Co-producer of Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere and This Is The Way We R.C.
The Allen Collins Band Co-producer of Here There & Back
The Artimus Pyle Band
Melanie - Sunset & Other Beginnings & As I See It Now
Lobo - Of A Simple Man & Calumet
Paul Davis - "Southern Tracks & Fantasies"
Jim Stafford - "Swamp Witch"
Lynyrd Skynyrd sessions include:
Dobro, mandolin - "Made in the Shade" ("Nuthin' Fancy")
Mandolin - "All I Can Do Is Write About It" ("Gimme Back My Bullets")
Dobro - "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" ("Street Survivors")
New album The Southern Part of Heaven
barryleeharwood.com
Shannon Wickline – Keys/Vocals
Shannon is a self taught multi-instrumentalist from Roanoke, VA. He began his journey on the drums at age 4.
After playing drums in church, Shannon began pecking away on the piano when he was 12. He found a chord book in an organ bench, so Shannon matched the notes shown on stickers on the keys to the notes in the book. By the time Shannon was 16, he was already writing, composing & recording music on several instruments.
Shannon later moved to Nashville where he would go on to work with artists including The Charlie Daniels Band, The Bellamy Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Travis Tritt, James Otto, Kenny Rogers & more.
Shannon came back home to Virginia during the pandemic after an 8 year tenure with The Charlie Daniels Band following Charlie's passing. He currently produces music for songwriters in his home studio as well as other recording studios.
When Shannon isn't making music, he's often on an adventure somewhere in the world with his wife, Angie. He can also usually be found having fun in the woods working on his family's farm.