Sanford-Townsend Band
Encyclopedia
The Sanford-Townsend Band was a successful rock and roll band in the United States
. They are considered a one-hit wonder
who scored a hit single
in 1977 with "Smoke from a Distant Fire".
group featuring Alabama keyboardists Ed Sanford (from Montgomery, AL
) and Johnny Townsend (from Tuscaloosa, AL
), who previously worked together in a Tuscaloosa-based band called "Heart", not to be confused with the Heart (band)
of the same name fronted by Ann & 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 the duo with Kenny Loggins
.
Their 1976 self-titled album started getting attention when "Smoke from a Distant Fire" reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100
and #1 in Cash Box, recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. The album was re-released using the song title as its own. 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 a host of other top acts of the day.
The band's follow-up albums, entitled Duo-Glide and Nail Me to the Wall, were significantly less successful. Sanford and Townsend returned to their careers as session musician
s and songwriter
s.
Ed Sanford co-wrote "I Keep Forgettin'
" with Michael McDonald
, which appeared on Michael's debut solo album in 1982. In 2008, John Townsend joined the Toler/Townsend Band with Dan Toler
. Townsend's tenor voice remains substantially unchanged from thirty years prior.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are considered a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
who scored a hit single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1977 with "Smoke from a Distant Fire".
History
The Sanford-Townsend Band was a blue-eyed soulBlue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
group featuring Alabama keyboardists Ed Sanford (from Montgomery, AL
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
) and Johnny Townsend (from Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
), who previously worked together in a Tuscaloosa-based band called "Heart", not to be confused with the Heart (band)
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
of the same name fronted by Ann & Nancy Wilson from Seattle/Vancouver.
After reuniting in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Sanford and Townsend signed a publishing deal with Chappell Music and began writing songs, most notably "Peacemaker" for Loggins and Messina
Loggins and Messina
Loggins and Messina are an American rock-pop duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina who achieved their success in the early to mid 1970s...
, which was co-written by the duo with Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
.
Their 1976 self-titled album started getting attention when "Smoke from a Distant Fire" reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and #1 in Cash Box, recorded at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. The album was re-released using the song title as its own. The band supported the song by opening for Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
on their Rumours Tour, as well as concerts with the Marshall Tucker Band
Marshall Tucker Band
The Marshall Tucker Band is an American Southern rock band originally from Spartanburg, South Carolina. The band's blend of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, country, and gospel helped establish the Southern rock genre in the early 1970s...
, Charlie Daniels
Charlie Daniels
Charles Edward "Charlie" Daniels is an American musician known for his contributions to country and southern rock music. He is known primarily for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", and multiple other songs he has performed and written. Daniels has been active as a singer...
, Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
, Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
, Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
and a host of other top acts of the day.
The band's follow-up albums, entitled Duo-Glide and Nail Me to the Wall, were significantly less successful. Sanford and Townsend returned to their careers as session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s.
Ed Sanford co-wrote "I Keep Forgettin'
I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
"I Keep Forgettin' " is a song by American singer-songwriter Michael McDonald, from his debut album If That's What It Takes. It was written by McDonald and Ed Sanford...
" with Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, which appeared on Michael's debut solo album in 1982. In 2008, John Townsend joined the Toler/Townsend Band with Dan Toler
Dan Toler
Dan Toler, also known as "Dangerous Dan Toler", is an American guitarist.-History:A native of Indiana, Dan Toler became popular in the late 1970s as a member of Dickey Betts & Great Southern. He was featured on the albums Dickey Betts & Great Southern and Atlanta's Burning Down...
. Townsend's tenor voice remains substantially unchanged from thirty years prior.