The Sanford-Townsend Band was an American rock and roll duo comprising of musicians Ed Sanford and Johnny Townsend. Active primarily in the late 1970s, their musical style was grounded in southern rock and blue-eyed soul, punctuated by the distinctive use of the ARP Omni synthesizer. They are best known for their hit single "Smoke from a Distant Fire," which reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977. Despite their relatively short tenure, the band's fusion of rock and soul elements had a notable influence on the soft rock genre.