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EspañolMUSCLE SHOALS, ALABAMA
(Redirected from Muscle Shoals)
'Muscle Shoals' is a city famous for its music and contributions to American popular music, in Colbert County, Alabama, USA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 11,924, and is included in The Shoals MSA.
Muscle Shoals is located at (34.750788, -87.650278).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.5 km² (12.2 mi²), all land.
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,924 people, 4,710 households, and 3,452 families residing in the city. The population density was 378.3/km² (979.7/mi²). There were 5,010 housing units at an average density of 158.9/km² (411.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.88% White, 14.16% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,710 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,216, and the median income for a family was $48,113. Males had a median income of $38,063 versus $21,933 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,113. About 5.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
The city is one of four municipalities known as the Quad Cities, the others being Florence, Alabama, Sheffield, Alabama and Tuscumbia, Alabama. Muscle Shoals is known for recording many hit songs from the 1960s through today at FAME Studios, where Aretha Franklin recorded many of her signature works, and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio which developed work for Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and countless others. While the music from the area is often referred to as the "Muscle Shoals Sound", all four of the Quad Cities have significantly contributed to the area's impressive musical history.
Without question, Muscle Shoals is among the world's most unassuming "music capitals" in that it remains unspoiled by the music industry. It can be said that the same attraction that artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and The Rolling Stones felt to the area remains intact today. The famed southern hospitality is still present and, at first glance, one may assume that everyone in residence is a part-time songwriter or musician. The community's contribution to American popular music during the 1960s, 70s and 80s is staggering, and the tradition continues to the present day.
A number of artists have made successful pilgrimages to Muscle Shoals in an effort to escape the limelight and write/record their signature works. Both FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios are still in operation in the city. While famous for classic recordings from Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, recent hit songs such as "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood and "I Loved Her First" by Heartland continue the city's musical legacy.
Additionally, fans of Muscle Shoals Music frequently make trips to the area to visit local landmarks. While most of the city's esteemed recording studios are still active, the majority will allow tours with an appointment. Further, a number of Rock, R&B and Country music celebrities have homes in the serene, mountainous rural area surrounding Muscle Shoals (Tuscumbia) or riverside estates alongside the Tennesse River and often perform in area nightclubs, typically rehearsing new material to an audience of honest locals. Among the musical celebrities with homes in the area are George Strait, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
The music written and recorded in Muscle Shoals is typically regarded as unique because of the frequent combination of soul/gospel, country and rock influences. During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, the area was a hotbed of creative talent as both white and black artists worked side-by-side. While this "desegregation" of artists is usually praised for its innovation, it was nothing new for most artists in North Alabama. In fact, the common practice of white and black musicians working together in Muscle Shoals can be traced as far back as the 1930s, regardless of racial tensions elsewhere in the American South.
What is most unique, musically speaking, about the area is the cross-pollination of musical styles that originated in Muscle Shoals. Black artists from the area (Arthur Alexander and James Carr being ideal examples) utilized White country music in their work and White artists from the Shoals frequently borrowed from blues/gospel influences of their Black contemporaries, creating a generous melting pot of music.
Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, lived in the area and directly related in his autobiography that Muscle Shoals (primarily radio station WLAY-AM, which played both "white" and "black" music on its playlist) influenced his merging of these sounds at Sun Records with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.
Muscle Shoals remains a fascinating study of American music and today is at once a landmark and distinguished contributor to popular recordings.
A partial list of artists who have recorded in Muscle Shoals:
★ Andy Williams
★ Aretha Franklin
★ Art Garfunkel (solo)
★ Arthur Alexander
★ B.W. Stevenson
★ Billy Swan
★ Billy Vera and the Beaters
★ Bob Dylan
★ Bob Seger
★ Boz Scaggs
★ Canned Heat
★ Carlos Santana
★ Cat Stevens
★ Cher
★ Clarence Carter
★ Dorothy Moore
★ Dr. Hook
★ Duane Allman
★ Eric Clapton
★ Etta James
★ Glenn Frey
★ Helen Reddy
★ Issac Hayes
★ James & Bobby Purify
★ Jerry Lee Lewis
★ Jimmy Buffett
★ Joan Baez
★ Joe Cocker
★ Joe Tex
★ Johnny Rivers
★ Jose Feliciano
★ Julian Lennon
★ Kim Carnes
★ Laura Nyro
★ Leon Russell
★ Linda Ronstadt
★ Lulu
★ Luther Ingram
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd
★ Mary MacGregor
★ Mel and Tim
★ Melissa Etheridge
★ Millie Jackson
★ Orleans
★ Otis Redding
★ Patti Austin
★ Paul Anka
★ Paul Davis
★ Paul Simon (solo)
★ Percy Sledge
★ Phoebe Snow
★ R.B. Greaves
★ Ray Stevens
★ Rod Stewart
★ Simon and Garfunkel (duo)
★ The Allman Brothers Band
★ The Osmonds
★ The Rolling Stones
★ The Sanford-Townsend Band
★ The Staple Singers
★ Tom Jones
★ Tony Orlando
★ Widespread Panic
★ Wilson Pickett
★ Alabama
★ Amazing Rhythm Aces
★ Blackhawk
★ Donna Fargo
★ Eddie Rabbit
★ Faith Hill
★ Jerry Reed
★ John Michael Montgomery
★ Johnny Paycheck
★ Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
★ Mac Davis
★ Marie Osmond
★ Reba McEntire
★ Ronnie Milsap
★ Shenandoah
★ The Forester Sisters
★ The Oak Ridge Boys
★ Willie Nelson
Sister city Florence, Alabama is frequently referred to as "the birthplace of the Blues". W.C. Handy was born in Florence and is generally regarded as the "Father of the Blues".
''Rolling Stone'' editor David Fricke wrote that if one wanted to play a single recording that would "epitomize and encapsulate the famed Muscle Shoals Sound", that record would be "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers.
Upon hearing "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers, American songwriter Paul Simon phoned his manager and asked him to arrange a recording session with the musicians who had performed this song. Simon was surprised to be told that he would have to travel to Muscle Shoals to work with the artists. After arriving in the small town, he was introduced to the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section ("The Swampers") who had recorded this song with Mavis Staples. Expecting black musicians (the original Rhythm Section consists only of white musicians), and assuming that he had been introduced to the office staff, Simon politely asked to "meet the band". Once things were sorted out, Simon cut a number of tracks with the group including "Loves Me Like A Rock", "Kodachrome" and "Still Crazy After All These Years". The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section is often mistaken as being made up of black musicians because of their association with several classic R&B recordings.
Duane Allman, later of Allman Brothers Band fame, once pitched a tent and camped out in the parking lot of FAME studios in an effort to be near the recording sessions occurring there. He soon befriended the studio staff and Wilson Pickett (who was recording at FAME during this time). During a lunch break, Allman taught Pickett the Beatles song "Hey Jude". Duane and Wilson's version of the song was eventually recorded with Allman on lead guitar. Upon hearing the session, Pickett's label (Atlantic Records) asked who had played the guitar solos on the record. The staff responded with a hand-written note that read "some hippie cat who's been living in our parking lot." Shortly afterwards, Allman was offered a recording contract. Auditions for the Allman Brothers Band were later held at FAME Studios. Duane Allman loved the area and frequently returned to the Shoals for session work throughout his life.
When Bob Dylan announced to his record label that he intended to record Christian music, the initially dismayed label executives insisted that if he planned to pursue the project, he must, at least, record the work in Muscle Shoals as they felt it would provide the work "some much needed credibility" (Dylan was not previously known for his overtly religious pronouncements and many worried that his efforts would be satirical; recording in the Bible Belt, it was thought, might prevent a disaster). Dylan was happy to oblige the label and recorded not one but two genuine Christian albums in the Shoals. The resulting albums ("Slow Train Coming" and "Saved") were recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. While the records were, at first, received poorly by critics (perhaps because of their sincerity), they are today regarded as the birth of modern Christian Rock.
In the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, a verse states that "Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers". The "Swampers" were studio musicians who were available if backup was needed. They were given this name by Leon Russell, and several of their gold and platinum records read "To The Swampers". Lynyrd Skynyrd saw these awards when they recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, and later included it in the song as a tribute. By definition, a "Swamper" is a helper, such as a waitress or truck driver's assistant. The musicians were "hired guns", hence the nickname.
The "Swampers", also known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, were recently inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. To celebrate their success, MSRS released a limited-edition compilation CD, sold through the Hall of Fame, containing ten instrumental tracks. The tracks include "Swampers", "Muscle Shoals", "3614 Jam", and "Inner Tube". The CD came with a special insert full of information about the members of MSRS.
The members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section were Pete Carr (lead guitar), Jimmy Johnson (guitar), Roger Hawkins (drums), David Hood (bass), and Barry Beckett (keyboards).
More recently, Florence native, Patterson Hood, son of "Swamper", David Hood, has risen to fame in his own right as a member of the alternative rock group, Drive-By Truckers. The top-two finishing finalists on the 2007 season of country music singing competition ''Nashville Star'', siblings Zac Hacker (second place) and Angela Hacker (winner), both hail from Muscle Shoals.
"Original Swamper" Jimmy Johnson recently recorded tracks for the debut album of up & coming Rock group KING KARMA at the legendary studio at 3614 Jackson Hwy, recently restored by Noel Webster.
The second Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, located at 1000 Alabama Avenue in Sheffield, closed its doors and now houses a movie production company; however, the Original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, located at 3614 Jackson Highway, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open for public tours.
The original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios building at 3614 Jackson Highway is now open daily for tours as a historic museum. It has been restored to its previous state, as it was in the 1970s with much of the original sound equipment and furniture.
Although Muscle Shoals has receded somewhat from its 1960s and 1970s status as "Hit Recording Capital of the World", (as a sign near the airport once read), it remains an important and enduring landmark location for the American recording industry.
The historical significance is so great that in May 2006, Shoals Music Magazine was founded to publicize the area’s musical history as well as its current and up-and-coming artists. It is believed to be the first magazine in Alabama to feature local music exclusively.
A partial list of songs recorded or written in Muscle Shoals or featuring artists from the area. This is, by no means, a complete discography of Muscle Shoals music, as there are literally thousands of songs to be cataloged.
★ Air Supply - "Even The Nights Are Better"
★ Alabama - "Old Flame"
★ Alicia Bridges - "I Love The Nightlife"
★ All 4 One - "I Swear"
★ Angela Hacker - "Total Loss"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Baby Baby Baby (Since You Been Gone)"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Chain Of Fools"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
★ Aretha Franklin - "I Never Loved A Man (The Way That I Love You)"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Respect"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Think"
★ Arthur Alexander - "Anna (Go With Him)"
★ Arthur Alexander - "Sally Sue Brown"
★ Arthur Alexander - "You Better Move On"
★ Arthur Conley - "Sweet Soul Music"
★ Barbara Mandrell - "Angel In Your Arms"
★ Barbara Streisand - "Woman In Love"
★ Beatles - "Anna (Go With Him)"
★ Beatles - "Soldier Of Love"
★ Billy Ray Cyrus - "Achy Breaky Heart"
★ Billy Swan - "I Can Help"
★ Blackhawk - "I Sure Can Smell The Rain"
★ Blackhawk - "Like There Ain't No Yesterday"
★ Bob Dylan - "Gotta Serve Somebody"
★ Bob Seger - "Night Moves"
★ Bob Seger - "Old Time Rock N Roll"
★ Bobbie Gentry - "Fancy"
★ Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces - "Searching For My Love"
★ Bobby Womack - "Harry Hippie"
★ Bobby Womack - "That's The Way I Feel 'Bout 'Cha"
★ Bobby Womack - "Woman's Gotta Have It"
★ Box Tops - "Cry Like A Baby"
★ Box Tops - "The Letter"
★ Boz Scaggs - "Loan Me A Dime"
★ Brooks & Dunn - "Hillbilly Deluxe"
★ Candi Staton - "I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man's Fool)"
★ Candi Staton - "Young Hearts Run Free"
★ Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
★ Clarence Carter - "Patches"
★ Clarence Carter - "Slip Away"
★ Clarence Carter - "Too Weak To Fight"
★ Commodores - "Machine Gun"
★ Conway Twitty - "I Was The First"
★ Conway Twitty - "She's Got A Single Thing In Mind"
★ Craig Morgan - "That's What I Love About Sunday"
★ Cry Of Love - "Peace Pipe"
★ Darryl Worley - "Have You Forgotten?"
★ Dave Dudley - "Six Days On The Road"
★ David Alan Coe - "Now I Lay Me Down To Cheat"
★ Denise LaSalle - "Fast Hands And Dirty Mind"
★ Derek & The Dominoes - "Layla"
★ Derek & The Dominoes - "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?"
★ Dire Straits - "Lady Writer"
★ Dixie Chicks - "Once You've Loved Somebody"
★ Don Covay - "I Was Checking Out, She Was Checking In"
★ Donnie Fritts - "Muscle Shoals"
★ Dorothy Moore - "Misty Blue"
★ Dr. Hook - "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman"
★ Dramatics - "Be My Girl"
★ Dramatics - "I'm Going By (The Stars In Your Eyes)"
★ Dusty Springfield - "Breakfast In Bed"
★ Earl Thomas Conely - "Holding Her And Loving You"
★ Eddie Hinton - "Uncloudy Days"
★ Eddie Rabbit - "Suspicions"
★ Elton John - "Philadelphia Freedom"
★ Emmylou Harris - "I'm Too Far Gone"
★ Emmylou Harris - "One Of These Days"
★ Emotions - "If You Think It..."
★ Eric Clapton - "I've Got A Rock N Roll Heart"
★ Eric Clapton - "Please Be With Me"
★ Etta James - "Amost Persuaded"
★ Etta James - "I'd Rather Go Blind"
★ Etta James - "Tell Mama"
★ Forester Sisters - "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes"
★ Forester Sisters - "Men"
★ Gary Nichols - "I Can't Love You Anymore"
★ George Jones - "If You Can Touch Her At All"
★ George Strait - "You Know Me Better Than That"
★ Glenn Frey - "Smuggler's Blues"
★ Grateful Dead - "Alabama Getaway"
★ Grateful Dead - "Franklin's Tower"
★ Grateful Dead - "Mr. Charlie"
★ Grateful Dead - "Sugar Magnolia"
★ Grateful Dead - "Tennessee Jed"
★ Grateful Dead - "Truckin'"
★ Gregg Allman - "I'm No Angel"
★ Hank Williams Jr. - "That's How They Do It In Dixie"
★ Heartland - "I Loved Her First"
★ Herbie Mann - "Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty"
★ Highwaymen - "Silver Stallion"
★ Hot - "Angel In Your Arms"
★ James & Bobby Purify - "I'm Your Puppet"
★ James Brown - "It's Too Funky In Here"
★ James Brown - "Regrets"
★ James Carr - "The Dark End Of The Street"
★ Janie Fricke - "Tell Me A Lie"
★ Jerry Lee Lewis - "A Damn Good Country Song"
★ Jerry Lee Lewis - "You're All Too Ugly Tonight"
★ Jerry Reed - "She Got The Goldmine, I Got The Shaft"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "Bama Breeze"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "Coconut Telegraph"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "Growing Older But Not Up"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "It's My Job"
★ Jimmy Cliff - "Sitting In Limbo"
★ Jimmy Cliff - "The Harder They Come"
★ Jimmy Hughes - "Steal Away"
★ Joan Baez - "Rainbow Road"
★ Joe Cocker - "High Time We Went"
★ Joe Simon - "Let's Do It Over"
★ Joe Tex - "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)"
★ John Lennon & Elton John - "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"
★ John Michael Montgomery - "I Swear"
★ Johnnie Taylor - "Disco Lady"
★ Johnnie Taylor - "Running Out Of Lies"
★ Joss Stone - "Victim Of A Foolish Heart"
★ Julian Lennon - "Too Late For Goodbyes"
★ Julian Lennon - "Valotte"
★ Kenny Chesney - "Back Where I Come From"
★ Kris Kristofferson - "Border Lord"
★ Kris Kristofferson - "The Pilgrim"
★ Laura Lee - "Dirty Man"
★ Leann Rimes - "The Heart Never Forgets"
★ Leblanc & Carr - "Falling"
★ Leon Russell - "Stranger In A Strange Land"
★ Leon Russell - "Tight Rope"
★ Little Richard - "Greenwood, Mississippi"
★ Loleatta Holloway - "Love Sensation"
★ Lonestar - "I'm Already There"
★ Loretta Lynn - "Somewhere Someone's Fallin' In Love"
★ Lou Rawls - "Dead End Street"
★ Lou Rawls - "Love's A Hurtin' Thing"
★ Lou Rawls - "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)"
★ Louvin Brothers - "Cash On The Barrel Head"
★ Louvin Brothers - "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby"
★ Luther Ingram - "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Wanna Be Right)"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Ballad Of Curtis Loew"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Gimme Three Steps"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Sweet Home Alabama"
★ Mac Davis - "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me"
★ Mel & Tim - "Starting All Over Again"
★ Millie Jackson - "A House For Sale"
★ Millie Jackson - "Bad Risk"
★ Millie Jackson - "If You're Not Back In Love By Monday"
★ Millie Jackson - "Letter Full Of Tears"
★ Millie Jackson - "Lovin' Your Good Thing Away"
★ Neal McCoy - "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On"
★ Oak Ridge Boys - "American Made"
★ Oak Ridge Boys - "Bobbie Sue"
★ Osmonds - "Down By The Lazy River"
★ Otis Redding - "You Left The Water Running"
★ Patti LaBelle - "Dreamer"
★ Paul Anka - "You're Having My Baby"
★ Paul Kelly - "Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord"
★ Paul Simon - "Kodachrome"
★ Paul Simon - "Loves Me Like A Rock"
★ Paul Simon - "Still Crazy After All These Years"
★ Paul Simon - "Take Me To The Mardi Gras"
★ Percy Sledge - "Sweet And Tender Love"
★ Percy Sledge - "Take Time To Know Her"
★ Percy Sledge - "When A Man Loves A Woman"
★ Phish - "Fast Enough For You"
★ Phish - "It's Ice"
★ Phish - "Maze"
★ Phish - "Mound"
★ Phish - "My Friend, My Friend"
★ Phish - "Silent In The Morning"
★ R.B. Greaves - "Take A Letter, Maria"
★ Randy Travis - "Is It Still Over?"
★ Ray Charles - "We Had It All"
★ Reba McEntire - "He Gets That From Me"
★ Reba McEntire - "One Honest Heart"
★ Ricky Skaggs - "Country Boy"
★ Ricky Van Shelton - "I Am A Simple Man"
★ Rod Stewart - "I Don't Wanna Talk About It"
★ Rod Stewart - "Sailing"
★ Rod Stewart - "The First Cut Is The Deepest"
★ Rod Stewart - "Tonight's The Night"
★ Rolling Stones - "Brown Sugar"
★ Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses"
★ Rolling Stones - "You Better Move On"
★ Rolling Stones - "You Got To Move"
★ Ronnie Milsap - "There's No Gettin' Over Me"
★ Ruth Brown - "Can't Stand A Broke Man"
★ Sanford Townsend Band - "Smoke From A Distant Fire"
★ Sawyer Brown - "Thank God For You"
★ Sawyer Brown - "The Walk"
★ Shenandoah - "I Wanna Be Loved Like That"
★ Shenandoah - "Sunday In The South"
★ Shenandoah - "The Church On Cumberland Road"
★ Shenandoah - "The Moon Over Georgia"
★ Simon & Garfunkel - "My Little Town"
★ Solomon Burke - "Proud Mary"
★ Solomon Burke - "Someone To Love Me"
★ Solomon Burke - "Take Me As I Am"
★ Soul Children - "The Sweeter He Is"
★ Staple Singers - "Heavy Makes You Happy"
★ Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"
★ Staple Singers - "Respect Yourself"
★ Steve Wariner - "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers"
★ Supremes - "Bend A Little"
★ Sweet Inspirations - "Sweet Inspiration"
★ T. Graham Brown - "Don't Go To Strangers"
★ T. Graham Brown - "Memphis Women And Chicken"
★ Tanya Tucker - "What's Your Mama's Name?"
★ Temptations - "Glass House"
★ Temptations - "Happy People"
★ Temptations - "Memories"
★ The Dells - "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation"
★ The Kendals - "Teach Me To Cheat"
★ Tony Joe White - "On The Return To Muscle Shoals"
★ Tony Joe White - "Polk Salad Annie"
★ Traffic - "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone"
★ Traffic - "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"
★ Traffic - "Uninspired"
★ Travis Tritt - "Now I've Seen It All"
★ Travis Tritt - "You Really Wouldn't Want Me That Way"
★ Travis Wammack - "Scratchy"
★ Van Morrison - "A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues"
★ Van Morrison - "Meet Me In The Indian Summer"
★ Waylon Jennings - "Ladies Love Outlaws"
★ Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
★ Widepsread Panic - "Pickin Up The Pieces"
★ William Bell - "I Forgot To Be Your Lover"
★ William Bell - "My Whole World Is Falling Down"
★ Willie Nelson - "Bloody Mary Morning"
★ Willie Nelson - "If You Can Touch Her At All"
★ Willie Nelson - "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way"
★ Willie Nelson - "Pretend I Never Happened"
★ Wilson Pickett - "Land Of 1,000 Dances"
★ Wilson Pickett - "Mustang Sally"
The Muscle Shoals City Schools system enjoys a reputation for its rigorous academic standards. There are seven schools in the MSCS district: Muscle Shoals High School, Muscle Shoals Center for Technology, Muscle Shoals Middle School, McBride Elementary School, Highland Park Elementary School, Webster Elementary School, and Howell Graves Preschool. The system is currently led by Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wooten. Visit the district website at http://www.mscs.k12.al.us.
★ The Muscle Shoals Music Forum A place to discuss the Shoals and its music - old and new
★ FAME Recording Studios
★ Shoals Music Magazine
'Muscle Shoals' is a city famous for its music and contributions to American popular music, in Colbert County, Alabama, USA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 11,924, and is included in The Shoals MSA.
| Contents |
| Geography |
| Demographics |
| Music |
| Recording artists |
| Pop, Rock and Soul |
| Country |
| Muscle Shoals music trivia |
| Songs associated with the "Muscle Shoals Sound" |
| Schools |
| External links |
Geography
Muscle Shoals is located at (34.750788, -87.650278).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.5 km² (12.2 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,924 people, 4,710 households, and 3,452 families residing in the city. The population density was 378.3/km² (979.7/mi²). There were 5,010 housing units at an average density of 158.9/km² (411.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.88% White, 14.16% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 1.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,710 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,216, and the median income for a family was $48,113. Males had a median income of $38,063 versus $21,933 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,113. About 5.4% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Music
The city is one of four municipalities known as the Quad Cities, the others being Florence, Alabama, Sheffield, Alabama and Tuscumbia, Alabama. Muscle Shoals is known for recording many hit songs from the 1960s through today at FAME Studios, where Aretha Franklin recorded many of her signature works, and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio which developed work for Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and countless others. While the music from the area is often referred to as the "Muscle Shoals Sound", all four of the Quad Cities have significantly contributed to the area's impressive musical history.
Without question, Muscle Shoals is among the world's most unassuming "music capitals" in that it remains unspoiled by the music industry. It can be said that the same attraction that artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and The Rolling Stones felt to the area remains intact today. The famed southern hospitality is still present and, at first glance, one may assume that everyone in residence is a part-time songwriter or musician. The community's contribution to American popular music during the 1960s, 70s and 80s is staggering, and the tradition continues to the present day.
A number of artists have made successful pilgrimages to Muscle Shoals in an effort to escape the limelight and write/record their signature works. Both FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studios are still in operation in the city. While famous for classic recordings from Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, recent hit songs such as "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood and "I Loved Her First" by Heartland continue the city's musical legacy.
Additionally, fans of Muscle Shoals Music frequently make trips to the area to visit local landmarks. While most of the city's esteemed recording studios are still active, the majority will allow tours with an appointment. Further, a number of Rock, R&B and Country music celebrities have homes in the serene, mountainous rural area surrounding Muscle Shoals (Tuscumbia) or riverside estates alongside the Tennesse River and often perform in area nightclubs, typically rehearsing new material to an audience of honest locals. Among the musical celebrities with homes in the area are George Strait, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
The music written and recorded in Muscle Shoals is typically regarded as unique because of the frequent combination of soul/gospel, country and rock influences. During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, the area was a hotbed of creative talent as both white and black artists worked side-by-side. While this "desegregation" of artists is usually praised for its innovation, it was nothing new for most artists in North Alabama. In fact, the common practice of white and black musicians working together in Muscle Shoals can be traced as far back as the 1930s, regardless of racial tensions elsewhere in the American South.
What is most unique, musically speaking, about the area is the cross-pollination of musical styles that originated in Muscle Shoals. Black artists from the area (Arthur Alexander and James Carr being ideal examples) utilized White country music in their work and White artists from the Shoals frequently borrowed from blues/gospel influences of their Black contemporaries, creating a generous melting pot of music.
Sam Phillips, founder of Sun Records, lived in the area and directly related in his autobiography that Muscle Shoals (primarily radio station WLAY-AM, which played both "white" and "black" music on its playlist) influenced his merging of these sounds at Sun Records with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash.
Muscle Shoals remains a fascinating study of American music and today is at once a landmark and distinguished contributor to popular recordings.
Recording artists
A partial list of artists who have recorded in Muscle Shoals:
Pop, Rock and Soul
★ Andy Williams
★ Aretha Franklin
★ Art Garfunkel (solo)
★ Arthur Alexander
★ B.W. Stevenson
★ Billy Swan
★ Billy Vera and the Beaters
★ Bob Dylan
★ Bob Seger
★ Boz Scaggs
★ Canned Heat
★ Carlos Santana
★ Cat Stevens
★ Cher
★ Clarence Carter
★ Dorothy Moore
★ Dr. Hook
★ Duane Allman
★ Eric Clapton
★ Etta James
★ Glenn Frey
★ Helen Reddy
★ Issac Hayes
★ James & Bobby Purify
★ Jerry Lee Lewis
★ Jimmy Buffett
★ Joan Baez
★ Joe Cocker
★ Joe Tex
★ Johnny Rivers
★ Jose Feliciano
★ Julian Lennon
★ Kim Carnes
★ Laura Nyro
★ Leon Russell
★ Linda Ronstadt
★ Lulu
★ Luther Ingram
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd
★ Mary MacGregor
★ Mel and Tim
★ Melissa Etheridge
★ Millie Jackson
★ Orleans
★ Otis Redding
★ Patti Austin
★ Paul Anka
★ Paul Davis
★ Paul Simon (solo)
★ Percy Sledge
★ Phoebe Snow
★ R.B. Greaves
★ Ray Stevens
★ Rod Stewart
★ Simon and Garfunkel (duo)
★ The Allman Brothers Band
★ The Osmonds
★ The Rolling Stones
★ The Sanford-Townsend Band
★ The Staple Singers
★ Tom Jones
★ Tony Orlando
★ Widespread Panic
★ Wilson Pickett
Country
★ Alabama
★ Amazing Rhythm Aces
★ Blackhawk
★ Donna Fargo
★ Eddie Rabbit
★ Faith Hill
★ Jerry Reed
★ John Michael Montgomery
★ Johnny Paycheck
★ Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
★ Mac Davis
★ Marie Osmond
★ Reba McEntire
★ Ronnie Milsap
★ Shenandoah
★ The Forester Sisters
★ The Oak Ridge Boys
★ Willie Nelson
Muscle Shoals music trivia
Sister city Florence, Alabama is frequently referred to as "the birthplace of the Blues". W.C. Handy was born in Florence and is generally regarded as the "Father of the Blues".
''Rolling Stone'' editor David Fricke wrote that if one wanted to play a single recording that would "epitomize and encapsulate the famed Muscle Shoals Sound", that record would be "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers.
Upon hearing "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers, American songwriter Paul Simon phoned his manager and asked him to arrange a recording session with the musicians who had performed this song. Simon was surprised to be told that he would have to travel to Muscle Shoals to work with the artists. After arriving in the small town, he was introduced to the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section ("The Swampers") who had recorded this song with Mavis Staples. Expecting black musicians (the original Rhythm Section consists only of white musicians), and assuming that he had been introduced to the office staff, Simon politely asked to "meet the band". Once things were sorted out, Simon cut a number of tracks with the group including "Loves Me Like A Rock", "Kodachrome" and "Still Crazy After All These Years". The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section is often mistaken as being made up of black musicians because of their association with several classic R&B recordings.
Duane Allman, later of Allman Brothers Band fame, once pitched a tent and camped out in the parking lot of FAME studios in an effort to be near the recording sessions occurring there. He soon befriended the studio staff and Wilson Pickett (who was recording at FAME during this time). During a lunch break, Allman taught Pickett the Beatles song "Hey Jude". Duane and Wilson's version of the song was eventually recorded with Allman on lead guitar. Upon hearing the session, Pickett's label (Atlantic Records) asked who had played the guitar solos on the record. The staff responded with a hand-written note that read "some hippie cat who's been living in our parking lot." Shortly afterwards, Allman was offered a recording contract. Auditions for the Allman Brothers Band were later held at FAME Studios. Duane Allman loved the area and frequently returned to the Shoals for session work throughout his life.
When Bob Dylan announced to his record label that he intended to record Christian music, the initially dismayed label executives insisted that if he planned to pursue the project, he must, at least, record the work in Muscle Shoals as they felt it would provide the work "some much needed credibility" (Dylan was not previously known for his overtly religious pronouncements and many worried that his efforts would be satirical; recording in the Bible Belt, it was thought, might prevent a disaster). Dylan was happy to oblige the label and recorded not one but two genuine Christian albums in the Shoals. The resulting albums ("Slow Train Coming" and "Saved") were recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. While the records were, at first, received poorly by critics (perhaps because of their sincerity), they are today regarded as the birth of modern Christian Rock.
In the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, a verse states that "Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers". The "Swampers" were studio musicians who were available if backup was needed. They were given this name by Leon Russell, and several of their gold and platinum records read "To The Swampers". Lynyrd Skynyrd saw these awards when they recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, and later included it in the song as a tribute. By definition, a "Swamper" is a helper, such as a waitress or truck driver's assistant. The musicians were "hired guns", hence the nickname.
The "Swampers", also known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, were recently inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. To celebrate their success, MSRS released a limited-edition compilation CD, sold through the Hall of Fame, containing ten instrumental tracks. The tracks include "Swampers", "Muscle Shoals", "3614 Jam", and "Inner Tube". The CD came with a special insert full of information about the members of MSRS.
The members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section were Pete Carr (lead guitar), Jimmy Johnson (guitar), Roger Hawkins (drums), David Hood (bass), and Barry Beckett (keyboards).
More recently, Florence native, Patterson Hood, son of "Swamper", David Hood, has risen to fame in his own right as a member of the alternative rock group, Drive-By Truckers. The top-two finishing finalists on the 2007 season of country music singing competition ''Nashville Star'', siblings Zac Hacker (second place) and Angela Hacker (winner), both hail from Muscle Shoals.
"Original Swamper" Jimmy Johnson recently recorded tracks for the debut album of up & coming Rock group KING KARMA at the legendary studio at 3614 Jackson Hwy, recently restored by Noel Webster.
The second Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, located at 1000 Alabama Avenue in Sheffield, closed its doors and now houses a movie production company; however, the Original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, located at 3614 Jackson Highway, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open for public tours.
The original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios building at 3614 Jackson Highway is now open daily for tours as a historic museum. It has been restored to its previous state, as it was in the 1970s with much of the original sound equipment and furniture.
Although Muscle Shoals has receded somewhat from its 1960s and 1970s status as "Hit Recording Capital of the World", (as a sign near the airport once read), it remains an important and enduring landmark location for the American recording industry.
The historical significance is so great that in May 2006, Shoals Music Magazine was founded to publicize the area’s musical history as well as its current and up-and-coming artists. It is believed to be the first magazine in Alabama to feature local music exclusively.
Songs associated with the "Muscle Shoals Sound"
A partial list of songs recorded or written in Muscle Shoals or featuring artists from the area. This is, by no means, a complete discography of Muscle Shoals music, as there are literally thousands of songs to be cataloged.
★ Air Supply - "Even The Nights Are Better"
★ Alabama - "Old Flame"
★ Alicia Bridges - "I Love The Nightlife"
★ All 4 One - "I Swear"
★ Angela Hacker - "Total Loss"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Baby Baby Baby (Since You Been Gone)"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Chain Of Fools"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
★ Aretha Franklin - "I Never Loved A Man (The Way That I Love You)"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Respect"
★ Aretha Franklin - "Think"
★ Arthur Alexander - "Anna (Go With Him)"
★ Arthur Alexander - "Sally Sue Brown"
★ Arthur Alexander - "You Better Move On"
★ Arthur Conley - "Sweet Soul Music"
★ Barbara Mandrell - "Angel In Your Arms"
★ Barbara Streisand - "Woman In Love"
★ Beatles - "Anna (Go With Him)"
★ Beatles - "Soldier Of Love"
★ Billy Ray Cyrus - "Achy Breaky Heart"
★ Billy Swan - "I Can Help"
★ Blackhawk - "I Sure Can Smell The Rain"
★ Blackhawk - "Like There Ain't No Yesterday"
★ Bob Dylan - "Gotta Serve Somebody"
★ Bob Seger - "Night Moves"
★ Bob Seger - "Old Time Rock N Roll"
★ Bobbie Gentry - "Fancy"
★ Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces - "Searching For My Love"
★ Bobby Womack - "Harry Hippie"
★ Bobby Womack - "That's The Way I Feel 'Bout 'Cha"
★ Bobby Womack - "Woman's Gotta Have It"
★ Box Tops - "Cry Like A Baby"
★ Box Tops - "The Letter"
★ Boz Scaggs - "Loan Me A Dime"
★ Brooks & Dunn - "Hillbilly Deluxe"
★ Candi Staton - "I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man's Fool)"
★ Candi Staton - "Young Hearts Run Free"
★ Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
★ Clarence Carter - "Patches"
★ Clarence Carter - "Slip Away"
★ Clarence Carter - "Too Weak To Fight"
★ Commodores - "Machine Gun"
★ Conway Twitty - "I Was The First"
★ Conway Twitty - "She's Got A Single Thing In Mind"
★ Craig Morgan - "That's What I Love About Sunday"
★ Cry Of Love - "Peace Pipe"
★ Darryl Worley - "Have You Forgotten?"
★ Dave Dudley - "Six Days On The Road"
★ David Alan Coe - "Now I Lay Me Down To Cheat"
★ Denise LaSalle - "Fast Hands And Dirty Mind"
★ Derek & The Dominoes - "Layla"
★ Derek & The Dominoes - "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?"
★ Dire Straits - "Lady Writer"
★ Dixie Chicks - "Once You've Loved Somebody"
★ Don Covay - "I Was Checking Out, She Was Checking In"
★ Donnie Fritts - "Muscle Shoals"
★ Dorothy Moore - "Misty Blue"
★ Dr. Hook - "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman"
★ Dramatics - "Be My Girl"
★ Dramatics - "I'm Going By (The Stars In Your Eyes)"
★ Dusty Springfield - "Breakfast In Bed"
★ Earl Thomas Conely - "Holding Her And Loving You"
★ Eddie Hinton - "Uncloudy Days"
★ Eddie Rabbit - "Suspicions"
★ Elton John - "Philadelphia Freedom"
★ Emmylou Harris - "I'm Too Far Gone"
★ Emmylou Harris - "One Of These Days"
★ Emotions - "If You Think It..."
★ Eric Clapton - "I've Got A Rock N Roll Heart"
★ Eric Clapton - "Please Be With Me"
★ Etta James - "Amost Persuaded"
★ Etta James - "I'd Rather Go Blind"
★ Etta James - "Tell Mama"
★ Forester Sisters - "Mama's Never Seen Those Eyes"
★ Forester Sisters - "Men"
★ Gary Nichols - "I Can't Love You Anymore"
★ George Jones - "If You Can Touch Her At All"
★ George Strait - "You Know Me Better Than That"
★ Glenn Frey - "Smuggler's Blues"
★ Grateful Dead - "Alabama Getaway"
★ Grateful Dead - "Franklin's Tower"
★ Grateful Dead - "Mr. Charlie"
★ Grateful Dead - "Sugar Magnolia"
★ Grateful Dead - "Tennessee Jed"
★ Grateful Dead - "Truckin'"
★ Gregg Allman - "I'm No Angel"
★ Hank Williams Jr. - "That's How They Do It In Dixie"
★ Heartland - "I Loved Her First"
★ Herbie Mann - "Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty"
★ Highwaymen - "Silver Stallion"
★ Hot - "Angel In Your Arms"
★ James & Bobby Purify - "I'm Your Puppet"
★ James Brown - "It's Too Funky In Here"
★ James Brown - "Regrets"
★ James Carr - "The Dark End Of The Street"
★ Janie Fricke - "Tell Me A Lie"
★ Jerry Lee Lewis - "A Damn Good Country Song"
★ Jerry Lee Lewis - "You're All Too Ugly Tonight"
★ Jerry Reed - "She Got The Goldmine, I Got The Shaft"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "Bama Breeze"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "Coconut Telegraph"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "Growing Older But Not Up"
★ Jimmy Buffett - "It's My Job"
★ Jimmy Cliff - "Sitting In Limbo"
★ Jimmy Cliff - "The Harder They Come"
★ Jimmy Hughes - "Steal Away"
★ Joan Baez - "Rainbow Road"
★ Joe Cocker - "High Time We Went"
★ Joe Simon - "Let's Do It Over"
★ Joe Tex - "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)"
★ John Lennon & Elton John - "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"
★ John Michael Montgomery - "I Swear"
★ Johnnie Taylor - "Disco Lady"
★ Johnnie Taylor - "Running Out Of Lies"
★ Joss Stone - "Victim Of A Foolish Heart"
★ Julian Lennon - "Too Late For Goodbyes"
★ Julian Lennon - "Valotte"
★ Kenny Chesney - "Back Where I Come From"
★ Kris Kristofferson - "Border Lord"
★ Kris Kristofferson - "The Pilgrim"
★ Laura Lee - "Dirty Man"
★ Leann Rimes - "The Heart Never Forgets"
★ Leblanc & Carr - "Falling"
★ Leon Russell - "Stranger In A Strange Land"
★ Leon Russell - "Tight Rope"
★ Little Richard - "Greenwood, Mississippi"
★ Loleatta Holloway - "Love Sensation"
★ Lonestar - "I'm Already There"
★ Loretta Lynn - "Somewhere Someone's Fallin' In Love"
★ Lou Rawls - "Dead End Street"
★ Lou Rawls - "Love's A Hurtin' Thing"
★ Lou Rawls - "Your Good Thing (Is About To End)"
★ Louvin Brothers - "Cash On The Barrel Head"
★ Louvin Brothers - "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby"
★ Luther Ingram - "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Wanna Be Right)"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Ballad Of Curtis Loew"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Gimme Three Steps"
★ Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Sweet Home Alabama"
★ Mac Davis - "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me"
★ Mel & Tim - "Starting All Over Again"
★ Millie Jackson - "A House For Sale"
★ Millie Jackson - "Bad Risk"
★ Millie Jackson - "If You're Not Back In Love By Monday"
★ Millie Jackson - "Letter Full Of Tears"
★ Millie Jackson - "Lovin' Your Good Thing Away"
★ Neal McCoy - "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On"
★ Oak Ridge Boys - "American Made"
★ Oak Ridge Boys - "Bobbie Sue"
★ Osmonds - "Down By The Lazy River"
★ Otis Redding - "You Left The Water Running"
★ Patti LaBelle - "Dreamer"
★ Paul Anka - "You're Having My Baby"
★ Paul Kelly - "Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord"
★ Paul Simon - "Kodachrome"
★ Paul Simon - "Loves Me Like A Rock"
★ Paul Simon - "Still Crazy After All These Years"
★ Paul Simon - "Take Me To The Mardi Gras"
★ Percy Sledge - "Sweet And Tender Love"
★ Percy Sledge - "Take Time To Know Her"
★ Percy Sledge - "When A Man Loves A Woman"
★ Phish - "Fast Enough For You"
★ Phish - "It's Ice"
★ Phish - "Maze"
★ Phish - "Mound"
★ Phish - "My Friend, My Friend"
★ Phish - "Silent In The Morning"
★ R.B. Greaves - "Take A Letter, Maria"
★ Randy Travis - "Is It Still Over?"
★ Ray Charles - "We Had It All"
★ Reba McEntire - "He Gets That From Me"
★ Reba McEntire - "One Honest Heart"
★ Ricky Skaggs - "Country Boy"
★ Ricky Van Shelton - "I Am A Simple Man"
★ Rod Stewart - "I Don't Wanna Talk About It"
★ Rod Stewart - "Sailing"
★ Rod Stewart - "The First Cut Is The Deepest"
★ Rod Stewart - "Tonight's The Night"
★ Rolling Stones - "Brown Sugar"
★ Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses"
★ Rolling Stones - "You Better Move On"
★ Rolling Stones - "You Got To Move"
★ Ronnie Milsap - "There's No Gettin' Over Me"
★ Ruth Brown - "Can't Stand A Broke Man"
★ Sanford Townsend Band - "Smoke From A Distant Fire"
★ Sawyer Brown - "Thank God For You"
★ Sawyer Brown - "The Walk"
★ Shenandoah - "I Wanna Be Loved Like That"
★ Shenandoah - "Sunday In The South"
★ Shenandoah - "The Church On Cumberland Road"
★ Shenandoah - "The Moon Over Georgia"
★ Simon & Garfunkel - "My Little Town"
★ Solomon Burke - "Proud Mary"
★ Solomon Burke - "Someone To Love Me"
★ Solomon Burke - "Take Me As I Am"
★ Soul Children - "The Sweeter He Is"
★ Staple Singers - "Heavy Makes You Happy"
★ Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"
★ Staple Singers - "Respect Yourself"
★ Steve Wariner - "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers"
★ Supremes - "Bend A Little"
★ Sweet Inspirations - "Sweet Inspiration"
★ T. Graham Brown - "Don't Go To Strangers"
★ T. Graham Brown - "Memphis Women And Chicken"
★ Tanya Tucker - "What's Your Mama's Name?"
★ Temptations - "Glass House"
★ Temptations - "Happy People"
★ Temptations - "Memories"
★ The Dells - "Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation"
★ The Kendals - "Teach Me To Cheat"
★ Tony Joe White - "On The Return To Muscle Shoals"
★ Tony Joe White - "Polk Salad Annie"
★ Traffic - "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone"
★ Traffic - "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"
★ Traffic - "Uninspired"
★ Travis Tritt - "Now I've Seen It All"
★ Travis Tritt - "You Really Wouldn't Want Me That Way"
★ Travis Wammack - "Scratchy"
★ Van Morrison - "A Shot Of Rhythm And Blues"
★ Van Morrison - "Meet Me In The Indian Summer"
★ Waylon Jennings - "Ladies Love Outlaws"
★ Wham! - "Careless Whisper"
★ Widepsread Panic - "Pickin Up The Pieces"
★ William Bell - "I Forgot To Be Your Lover"
★ William Bell - "My Whole World Is Falling Down"
★ Willie Nelson - "Bloody Mary Morning"
★ Willie Nelson - "If You Can Touch Her At All"
★ Willie Nelson - "It's Not Supposed To Be That Way"
★ Willie Nelson - "Pretend I Never Happened"
★ Wilson Pickett - "Land Of 1,000 Dances"
★ Wilson Pickett - "Mustang Sally"
Schools
The Muscle Shoals City Schools system enjoys a reputation for its rigorous academic standards. There are seven schools in the MSCS district: Muscle Shoals High School, Muscle Shoals Center for Technology, Muscle Shoals Middle School, McBride Elementary School, Highland Park Elementary School, Webster Elementary School, and Howell Graves Preschool. The system is currently led by Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wooten. Visit the district website at http://www.mscs.k12.al.us.
External links
★ The Muscle Shoals Music Forum A place to discuss the Shoals and its music - old and new
★ FAME Recording Studios
★ Shoals Music Magazine
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