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Lead guitarist Barry Bailey returned to his musical roots recently to accept a key to the city of Doraville and receive a proclamation from mayor Ray Jenkins.

Bailey, a founding member of the rock group Atlanta Rhythm Section, was a studio musician at Doraville’s Studio One in 1970 along with other members of the band. ARS recorded its first album in 1972, and Bailey wrote the music for Doraville, the band’s first top 40 hit in 1974.

“It’s refreshing to be back, and it’s nice to be honored like this,” said Bailey, who retired from the band in 2005 and lives in Madison with his wife Ginger. “It’s good to ride around and see how the city has changed, and in some cases, not changed.”

ARS recorded seven albums at Studio One, which closed in 1989. Several other bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special also recorded there. The Atlanta Rhythm Section was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1996, and the band still tours with founding member Dean Daughtry as the only original member remaining.

Each original member of the band will receive a key and a copy of the proclamation, Jenkins said. Bailey brought T-shirts and an early 1970s publicity photo of the band posing by an old Doraville City Limits sign for the mayor and staff.

Bailey, a native of Decatur, has been honored previously with a key to the city of Decatur. Before forming the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Bailey played with Roy Orbison’s band from 1967-69.