Sixshooter promo picture from 1977. (left to right: Joe Crisler, guitar - vocals; Charlie Johnston, steel guitar - lead guitar; Rod Wallace, bass guitar - vocals; Ed Canada, lead guitar - 12-string guitar - mandolin - vocals; Jim Darnell, drums; Larry Smith, lead vocals, rhythm guitar)
The Festus Pettus Bionic Band returned from Florida in early 1977 needing a new direction. Festus Pettus was a uniquely original band, playing a lot of Larry's original songs and songs recorded by non-commercial artists the band members liked and listened to. But there wasn't a lot of steady money in being unique. Bassist, Spencer Hill, left the band and was replaced by Rod Wallace, who had just returned from the Montgomery area where he had been living and playing music in a band called the Buffalo Band. Drummer, Lynn Smith, got married and was replaced by Jim Darnell from Decatur Alabama. Charlie Johnston had recently started playing steel guitar and wanted to focus more on that instrument. The guys decided that a change was needed in order to be able to make money playing in clubs around the Southeast. It was decided that the music would become a blend of commercial country, country rock, bluegrass and old country music. Larry's originals that were country oriented were still performed when appropriate. Sixshooter became the new name. A professional approach was taken in marketing the band. An emphasis was placed on appearance, and then band (with monetary and seamstress help from Ed Canada's mother) acquired several costume changes. Ed's mother made some of the costumes; some of the others were purchased from Loretta Lynn's clothing store in Nashville. Charles Jordan, a local photographer, was hired to take official pictures. Tommy Pettus continued to serve as the band's manager. Sixshooter played for most of the 1977 year in clubs in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
Photo by Charles Jordan