Robert Nix (November 8, 1944 May 20, 2012) was an American drummer best known as a founding member of the rock band

Atlanta Rhythm Section Atlanta Rhythm Section (or ARS) is an American Southern rock band formed in 1970 by Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitar), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards), Robert Nix (drums) and J. R. Cobb (guitar). The band's current l ...

(ARS). A member of ARS from 1971-1979, he co-wrote several of their songs including the top-ten hits " So Into You" and " Imaginary Lover". Nix grew up in

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...

and graduated from Paxon Senior High School in 1962. He got his start as a member of

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

's backing band

The Candymen The Candymen (or the Candy Men) were an American pop quintet active 1965-1972 which prefigured the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The group were managed by Dothan, Alabama producer-songwriter Buddy Buie, and included guitarists John Rainey Adkins (who was ...

, and also played on recordings for artists including

The Classics IV The Classics IV is an American band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965. The band, founded by Dennis Yost, is known mainly for the hits " Spooky," " Stormy," and "Traces," released 1967 to 1969, which have become cover standar ...

Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( ) is an American rock music, rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Ju ...

, and

Al Kooper Al Kooper (born Alan Peter Kuperschmidt; February 5, 1944) is a retired American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears, although he did not stay with the group long enough to share its popularity. ...

. Nix also co-wrote songs for other artists, including

Billy Joe Royal Billy Joe Royal (April 3, 1942 – October 6, 2015) was an American country soul singer. His most successful record was " Down in the Boondocks" in 1965. Life and career Born in Valdosta, Georgia, to Clarence and Mary Sue Smith Royal, and rai ...

's "

Cherry Hill Park "Cherry Hill Park" is a song written by Robert Nix and Billy Gilmore, arranged by Buddy Buie, James Cobb, and Emory Gordy, Jr., and produced by Buie and Bill Lowery. Content The subject of the song is one Mary Hill, a girl who frequents the ...

" and

B. J. Thomas Billy Joe Thomas (August 7, 1942 – May 29, 2021) was an American singer widely known for his pop, country and Christian hits of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Popular songs by Thomas include "Hooked on a Feeling" (1968), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' ...

' "Mighty Clouds of Joy". In later years Nix suffered from diabetes and multiple myeloma, and died on May 20, 2012, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, from complications following surgery the previous month. He was 67.

External links

Sept 2008 "Bands of Dixie" article by Robert Nix

Nov 2008 "Bands of Dixie" interview with Robert Nix

Obituary at Ultimate Classic Rock

Obituary at Jacksonville.com

Obituary from Wells Funeral Home
1944 births 2012 deaths American rock drummers Atlanta Rhythm Section members {{US-rock-drummer-stub