Gator Country is an American Southern rock band formed in Davie, Florida in 2005 by several ex-members of the Southern rock group Molly Hatchet.
The band, founded by vocalist Jimmy Farrar, gutarist Duane Roland, drummer Bruce Crump, guitarist Steve Holland, and bassist Riff West took its name from the title of the hit song "Gator Country". In 2006 Gator Country, led by vocalist Jimmy Farrar, continue to perform popular songs such as "Beatin' The Odds", "Bounty Hunter" as well as "Oh Atlanta".
On Monday, June 19, 2006, founding guitarist Duane Roland died at his home in St. Augustine, Florida at the age of 53 according to Bobby Ingram on the Molly Hatchet MySpace website. He had been playing with the band Gator Country as late as May 2006. His death was listed as being of "natural causes" according to a June 25, 2006 The Boston Globe Associated Press obituary report. Guitarist Paul Chapman joined the band in July 2006.
In July 2008, the Gator Country band web site reported that lead singer Jimmy Farrar had suffered a mild stroke. According to the web site: "It is true that Jimmy, our beloved brother and front man, suffered a stroke a couple of weeks ago. He woke up, as he puts it, "Feelin' kind of funky" on his left side. As strokes go, it was a mild one and he is having very minimal effects as a result.
The first morning in the hospital they had him up and walking the halls and he's been mobile ever since. The only complaint he has is a little weakness in his left arm. Some physical therapy is expected to help with that."
