Representative Albums: "Area Code 615," "Area Code 615/A Trip in the Country," "A Trip in the Country"
Biography
Area Code 615 was a Nashville studio supergroup (615 is the Nashville telephone area code) formed in 1969 in the wake of Bob Dylan's Nashville Skyline album, on which some of the future members played. They were a who's who of Nashville session stars: Charlie McCoy, Mac Gayden, Weldon Myrick, Kenny Buttrey, Bobby Thompson, Wayne Moss, Buddy Spicher, Norbert Putnam, and David Briggs. This lineup appeared on both of their albums, Area Code 615 in 1969 and Trip in the Country in 1970. Subsequently, Moss formed Barefoot Jerry, and Putnam and Briggs became producers. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Area Code 615 was the name of a Nashville country rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, taking their name from the telephone area code, which at the time covered all of Central and Eastern Tennessee. The band was made up of session musicians, recording only two albums before resuming normal session work. Several of the members were backing musicians for Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde and Nashville Skyline albums [1] and on recordings by Billy Swan.
Mac Gayden is well known as a session guitarist and is renowned for his innovative wah-wah slide guitar technique, as showcased on the early 1970s J.J. Cale hit "Crazy Mama"[2]. He is also successful pop songwriter who co-wrote (with Buzz Cason) the perennial hit "Everlasting Love" as well a number of successful bubblegum pop songs including "Hayride", which was a major Australian hit for Flying Circus.
Moss, Gayden, and Buttrey went on to play with Nashville-based Barefoot Jerry, which continues to perform occasionally today. David Briggs later worked with Elvis Presley and Joan Baez. Area Code 615 frequently backed Johnny Cash and appeared on his ABC show during 1969-1971.