The Famous Muscle Shoals Sign.  This sign, which no longer stands, would greet visitors arriving from the Muscle Shoals Airport.  It reads "Welcome To City of Muscle Shoals. Hit Recording Capital Of The World".  At one point, Muscle Shoals produced more hit music per capita than any other city in the world!


Former WLAY-AM DJ and Shoals resident Sam Phillips is one of our area's legendary citizens. Following his tenure at WLAY-AM, Sam would leave the Shoals for Memphis and found Sun Recording Studios.  The sounds he heard in the Shoals and especially the eclectic mix of music on WLAY-AM (Country, Blues, Bluegrass and Gospel) inspired him to mix these sounds with innovative recordings with the likes of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and numerous others.  Sam is, of course, generally regarded as one of the founding fathers of Rock N Roll.


One of the primary founders of  the Muscle Shoals Sound, Rick Hall is regarded as one of the Shoals' most esteemed music industry veterans.  He has recorded and produced work for countless lumanaries in pop, soul, country and rock music. His is, of course, the founder of FAME Recording Studios.  The above portrait is courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall Of Fame and it hangs in their gallery.

           
The legendary FAME Studios as it appeared during it's hit-making heyday  (top)  and as it appears today (bottom), still churning out the hits!

       
The Famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield.  The photo on the top, taken during the studio's incredibly busy years features many of the staff members that made the studio so important.  Left to right are Barry Beckett, Eddie Hinton, Jimmy Johnson, Jerry Wexler, Pete Carr, Roger Hawkins, David Hood, Jerry Masters and Steve Melton.  The photo on the bottom is the restored studio as it stands today.



The men who made the hits - The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in front of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. 


Gospel music is an important piece of the Muscle Shoals musical fabic.  This praise session in a Florence, Alabama park is example of the vast musical pallette in the Shoals.


Many would argue that the famed Muscle Shoals Sound began with this man, Arthur Alexander.  At the very least, he was the first Shoals artist to breakthrough nationwide with his hit "You Better Move On".  The above photo is a candid shot of Arthur in his later years.


Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records began a long association with Rick Hall at FAME Studios.  Wilson Pickett was among the first acts brought to the Shoals to record.  At FAME, he waxed such legendary recordings as "Mustang Sally".  Above Jerry Wexler and Wilson Pickett prepare to lay down tracks at FAME.


Atlantic Records' Jerry Wexler brought Aretha Franklin to Muscle Shoals to record at Rick Hall's FAME Studios.  Here, and alongside the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Aretha tracked many of her landmark recordings. Above Aretha and Jerry discuss the session at FAME.

Atlantic Records' Arif Mardin shares a laugh as Aretha Franklin prepares to rehearse at Muscle Shoals' FAME Recording Studios.

Duanne Allman, one of the primary session men at FAME Studios (and later at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios) was present during the Aretha Franklin FAME sessions.  Duanne would also work alongside Wilson Pickett and several other lumanaries during his tenure in the Shoals.  In fact, auditions for the Allman Brothers Band would later be held at FAME Studios in the Shoals.

   
Duanne working at FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound.



Shoals music pioneer Buddy Killen works with one of his artists, the great Joe Tex.


One of Muscle Shoals' most popular and influential early bands, The Pallbearers.  The group featured Muscle Shoals music legend Dan Penn and served as one of the first rhythm sections for FAME Recording Studios  (appearing on "You Better Move On" by Arthur Alexander). The band caused quite a stir in North Alabama as they arrived for their gigs in a hearse much to the chagrin of the area's elite.


The great Donnie Fritts is not only one of the founding fathers of the Muscle Shoals Sound (he was present at the very beginning) but he is also onf the area's most accomplished songwriters.  Donnie still resides in the Shoals today and continues to write, record and perform with artists are diverse and Kris Kristofferson and Billy Bob Thorton among others.


In an attempt to reinvent her sound, Atlantic Records brought Cher to record in Muscle Shoals at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. In the photo above, Jerry Wexler, Cher, Ahmet Ertegun and Sonny Bono pose on the famous studio floor.

A shot of the entire crew outside of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios during the recording sessions for the Cher album that would take its name from the studio's famous address:  "3614 Jackson Highway".


Shoals native Donna Jean (Thatcher) Godchaux made her way in the music industry first by singing background vocals on countless sessions at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and, eventually, even recorded with Elvis Presley in Memphis on a string of legendary sides.  Donna would go on to join the Grateful Dead and she is pictured above with Jerry Garcia.  Donna still lives in the Shoals and continues to record and tour with her band, Donna Jean And The Tricksters.


The Rolling Stones came to Muscle Shoals Sound Studios to record their Sticky Fingers album.  Here is a shot of Mick Jagger listening to the playback of "Brown Sugar".



The Stones oversee the recording of "Wild Horses" at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios with Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section member/engineer Jimmy Johnson on the left.


Bob Dylan did much work in Muscle Shoals.  Here, Bob poses with Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section member/Producer Barry Beckett and Atlantic Records' Jerry Wexler.  The photo was taken at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios during the recording of "Slow Train Coming".


Bob Dylan working at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.


Bob Dylan taking a break from recording in Muscle Shoals.