Dean Daughtry dies: The co-founder of the Atlanta Rhythm Section and co-writer of the hit “So Into You” was 76

Dean Daughtry, the keyboardist and co-writer behind Atlanta Rhythm Section’s two biggest hits, died Thursday in Huntsville, AL, of natural causes. He turned 76.

Atlanta Rhythm Section was ubiquitous on radio in the 1970s thanks to Top 10 soft rock hits “So Into You” and “Imaginary Lover.” Daughtry wrote both together.

“Although ARS is known as a guitar oriented band, just listen to the recordings and you can tell the contribution Dean made to the band. From the first chord of ‘So Into You’ to the introduction of ‘Imaginary Lover’ he left his mark on the band’s recordings,” the band wrote on Facebook. “He didn’t miss a show for 49 years until a few years ago when he had to retire for health reasons and cut short his 50-year goal. He was like a bulldog, but his friends knew him as ‘OX’.”

Daughtry was the only consistent member from 1971 until 2020 when he retired. Before joining ARS, Daughtry played keyboards with The Candymen and later Classics IV, who had top 10 pop hits with “Stormy” and “Traces” while in the group. He also often played as part of Roy Orbison’s backing band.

Daughtry and his fellow Candymen bandmates Rodney Justo, Barry Bailey and Robert Nix, and former Classics IV member JR Cobb Jr. joined bassist Paul Goddard to form ARS in Doraville, a suburb of Atlanta.

The group’s first album was released in 1972, but it didn’t last until 1977 A rock ‘n’ roll alternative for them to grow up. That gold album had “So Into You” a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

They followed with Champagne Jam’s 1978 Top 10 “Imaginary Lover”, which peaked at #7 and was the group’s only album to sell a million copies.

The group subsequently had several minor hits, including “Spooky”, a remake of the Classics IV song recorded before Daughtry joined the group. ARS’ version charted at number 17 on Billboard.

ARS continues to play small theaters and festivals, with Lee Shealy taking Daughtry’s place.

No information about survivors or memorial plans was initially available.