The first incarnation of the band, "Mr. Crowe's Garden," named after Leonard Leslie Brookes children's book "Johnny Crow's Garden", began in 1984 in Marietta, Georgia. Influenced by contemporary local acts like R.E.M., 1960s psychedelic pop and classic southern rock, they gradually evolved into a revivalist band dedicated to 1970s-era blues rock. Although the band has had a high turnover rate throughout their history, the driving force behind the band has always been brothers Chris and Rich Robinson who initially formed the band while attending Walton High School.