The Dixie Flyers

Led by guitarist Jim Dickinson and former Jerry Lee Lewis guitarist Charlie Freeman, the Dixie Flyers were one of the busiest session groups of the early '70s. Establishing their early reputation with appearances on recordings by Billy Lee Riley, Johnny Hallyday, Hank Ballard, Bettye LaVette, and Albert Collins, the group reached its peak as resident band at Atlantic Records' Criteria Recording Studio in Miami, Florida. In a little less two years, they appeared on recordings by Aretha Franklin, Carmen McRae, Delaney & Bonnie, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dee Dee Warwick, Ronnie Hawkins, Sam & Dave, Brook Benton, Lulu, and Little Esther Phillips. Several members of the Dixie Flyers, including Freeman, bass player Tommy McClure, and drummer Sammy Creason, had previously worked together as session musicians at Stan Kesler's Sounds of Memphis studio. They made their only public appearance when they performed, as Soldiers of the Cross, at the Memphis Blues Festival in 1969. Although Atlantic encouraged the group to record an album of its own, the plan never came to fruition. Instead, the band's contract was restructured to allow Dickinson to record a solo album. He eventually rose to a vice president position with Atlantic. While the remaining members of the Dixie Flyers attempted to record an instrumental album, the tapes mysteriously disappeared. After serving as backup band for Rita Coolidge and Kris Kristofferson in the mid-'70s, the group disbanded.
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