I’m on my way to Southaven, Mississippi to see the band Cake perform. My first stop was Muscle Shoals. If you know anything about music history, you have probably heard of this small Alabama town.
It was an unlikely place for gaining such notoriety, but hundreds of well-known artists have recorded at FAME studios. From soul to country to rock & roll, Rick Hall and his little studio played a great role in music history.
Here’s a short list:
- Aretha Frankin
- Little Richard
- Wilson Pickett
- Etta James
- Otis Redding
- The Osmonds
- Jerry Reed
- Alabama
- Mac Davis
- Duane Allman
- Greg Allman
- Michael McDonald
- Demi Levato
- Allison Krause
- Steven Tyler
- Keb Mo
- John Paul White
- The Rolling Stones
- Bob Seger
- Lynyrd Skynyrd.
- and of course, the famous Swampers
Many of the original keyboards and organs are still being used in modern recording sessions. What a vibe!
Just standing there in the exact same spots where Aretha Franklin sang and Duane Allman played, (and slept on the floor), was quite humbling. If you ever get the chance, make sure to take the two-hour tour. It’s worth the $40. – dse
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