The Amazing Rhythm Aces originated in Knoxville, TN in the early 70"s when singer-songwriter Russell Smith and drummer Butch McDade got together to form a band, "Out of self defense", says Smith, "We couldn't stand playing disco and poodle hair band music anymore. We wanted to play music with soul, no matter what style it was called and we were both into blues, soul, R&B, bluegrass and hard core country. The didn't know what to call it then. Now they call it Roots or Americana". Over a period of years they found others with similar taste in music. Butch met bassist Jeff Davis playing the blues in Chicago with Otis Rush and brought him down south. Meanwhile Russell had discovered organist Billy Earheart and brought him into the band. When Butch went north for a tour with Jesse Winchester he took with him some demo tapes the band had recorded. Jesse heard them and put two songs written by Russell into his show. The reaction was so good that Jesse put them both on his next album. Meanwhile back in the States guitarist/producer Barry "Byrd" Burton who also began his career in the Knoxville music scene heard the songs and played them for Knox Phillips,the son of Sam Phillips. He liked what he heard and signed the band to a production deal. So with "Byrd" producing and playing lead guitar, dobro, mandolin and steel guitar and with the addition of James Hooker on grand piano the Aces first incarnation was complete. Their albums, "Stacked Deck" and "Too Stuffed To Jump" produced three memorable crossover hits, "Third Rate Romance", "Amazing Grace" (Used To Be Her Favorite Song) and "The End Is Not In Sight" which won them a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance By A Group. After their next release, "Toucan Do It Too" Burton left the band and was replaced by Duncan Cameron. After three more Albums, "Burning The Ballroom Down", "The Amazing Rhythm Aces" (the white album)and "How The Hell Do You Spell Rhythm?" the band called it a day. 15 years later Russell, now enjoying a successful career as a singer/songwriter decided to re-record some of the Aces songs because the original masters had mysteriously disappeared." I was getting calls at my publishing company from fans begging to know where to get the music. So basically I restarted the band by popular demand." That CD "Ride Again" was followed by "Out Of The Blue", "Chock Full Of Country Goodness", "Nothin' But The Blues" and their latest, "Midnight Communion".