Nation Championship: Muscle Shoals music tour

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Today, for me, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, I was able to walk through and touch the soundtrack of my life. I believe the soul of music never leaves the building where it is captured and that if you stood alone in the darkened studio you would still hear the whispers of the artists who played within. I went on a tour with 20 or so wives of the Nation anglers here for the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors and I’m going to step back some and let the wives tell you of their day. It began at FAME studio.
Today, for me, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, I was able to walk through and touch the soundtrack of my life. I believe the soul of music never leaves the building where it is captured and that if you stood alone in the darkened studio you would still hear the whispers of the artists who played within. I went on a tour with 20 or so wives of the Nation anglers here for the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors and I’m going to step back some and let the wives tell you of their day. It began at FAME studio.
FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) the legendary studio of greats like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge, Etta James and so many others. “It was wonderful for me, it was a walk down memory lane from back when I was young, just amazing.” Paula Tully
FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) the legendary studio of greats like Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Percy Sledge, Etta James and so many others. “It was wonderful for me, it was a walk down memory lane from back when I was young, just amazing.” Paula Tully
“I’ve never actually had the opportunity to see where music is made and recorded, fascinating.” Sandee Day
“I’ve never actually had the opportunity to see where music is made and recorded, fascinating.” Sandee Day
Our tour guy, Spencer Coats, sound guy and all around “cat” as he called all those who played there in the past sat down at a vintage keyboard and suddenly played a short rift from “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, then he…
Our tour guy, Spencer Coats, sound guy and all around “cat” as he called all those who played there in the past sat down at a vintage keyboard and suddenly played a short rift from “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, then he…
…went over keys of…
…went over keys of…
…the studio piano and played a few chords from Arthea’s first song recorded there: “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You).
…the studio piano and played a few chords from Arthea’s first song recorded there: “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You).” Three notes in the studio walls smiled.
“I had never been in a studio before,” 25-year-old Taylor Dodd told me, most of the names she heard where the names of people her parents or grandparents listened to. Dear Taylor if you never go in any other studio in your life, know this, today you stood in what many consider to be the soul of the music you hear today, welcome to its roots.
“I had never been in a studio before,” 25-year-old Taylor Dodd told me, most of the names she heard where the names of people her parents or grandparents listened to. Dear Taylor if you never go in any other studio in your life, know this, today you stood in what many consider to be the soul of the music you hear today, welcome to its roots.
When I asked Spencer if anyone famous cut any tracks in that booth he responded, “Dude man, all the great cats sang in there.” And a few Nation wives as well.
When I asked Spencer if anyone famous cut any tracks in that booth he responded, “Dude man, all the great cats sang in there.” And a few Nation wives as well.
“The energy in the studio was just magical, I had goose bumps all the time.” Rachel Rose
“The energy in the studio was just magical, I had goose bumps all the time.” Rachel Rose
“Through these doors walk the finest…” I would add just one other line to that sign, this: “Through these doors came the memories, the hopes, dreams and comfort of an entire generation.” Thank you…
“Through these doors walk the finest…” I would add just one other line to that sign, this: “Through these doors came the memories, the hopes, dreams and comfort of an entire generation.” Thank you…
…FAME.
…FAME.
A few miles away, believe it or not, another soundtrack of the lives of millions of people: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, AKA 3614 Jackson Highway which began life as a place where you would buy coffins for the cemetery that was across the street.
A few miles away, believe it or not, another soundtrack of the lives of millions of people: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, AKA 3614 Jackson Highway which began life as a place where you would buy coffins for the cemetery that was across the street.
The tour began in the basement/1960s speakeasy. You see those albums on the wall? All of them were produced here or had songs on the album cut in this studio.
The tour began in the basement/1960s speakeasy. You see those albums on the wall? All of them were produced here or had songs on the album cut in this studio.
In December of 1969, over a three-day period The Rolling Stones laid down the tracks for the songs “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses” and “You Gotta Move,” which...
In December of 1969, over a three-day period The Rolling Stones laid down the tracks for the songs “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses” and “You Gotta Move,” which…
…in the bathroom just off the studio Keith Richards put together “Wild Horses.”
…in the bathroom just off the studio Keith Richards put together “Wild Horses.”
The original couch where Joe Cocker took naps between takes. “We were some place so simple, and yet so much iconic music that we all heard came from within it.” Stacey Richardson
The original couch where Joe Cocker took naps between takes. “We were some place so simple, and yet so much iconic music that we all heard came from within it.” Stacey Richardson
“I’m from Australia, and I even listened to the songs of the people who recorded them here, American music had such an influence on me.” Lauren McGrath
“I’m from Australia, and I even listened to the songs of the people who recorded them here, American music had such an influence on me.” Lauren McGrath
“It was old school, nothing like it is now but the sound never gets old when you hear it.” Sharon Petrie
“It was old school, nothing like it is now but the sound never gets old when you hear it.” Sharon Petrie
“Lulu, I loved Lulu, I had no idea she recorded an album here, I learned things today that I never knew about the music I loved.” Sylvia Morris
“Lulu, I loved Lulu, I had no idea she recorded an album here, I learned things today that I never knew about the music I loved.” Sylvia Morris
“The Swampers, the band that owned the studio, I never knew they were so good.” Pretty much an understatement from Debbie Brant
“The Swampers, the band that owned the studio, I never knew they were so good.” Pretty much an understatement from Debbie Brant
“I grew up with the music that came out of this studio playing throughout my house, so many of these songs I’ve heard all my life came from right here, right here.” Tammy Fogner
“I grew up with the music that came out of this studio playing throughout my house, so many of these songs I’ve heard all my life came from right here, right here.” Tammy Fogner
From Cher who cut her first solo album here…
From Cher who cut her first solo album here…
…to Paul Simon, “Still Crazy After All These Years.” It is said that Paul couldn’t read music but his own way of writing it, Do=#1, Re=#2, Mi=#3 and so on down the scale.
…to Paul Simon, “Still Crazy After All These Years.” It is said that Paul couldn’t read music but his own way of writing it, Do=#1, Re=#2, Mi=#3 and so on down the scale.
For a moment I just stood alone in the control room, every one was out in the studio, it was just me and this original soundboard…
For a moment I just stood alone in the control room, every one was out in the studio, it was just me and this original soundboard…
…and as I took this exact photo, I knew what the caption would be, it would be simple, it would be heartfelt, and it would be…thank you! Thank you for producing the music that many times in my life growing up was the only thing I could turn to for hope, the only thing that whispered to me that dreams do come true.
…and as I took this exact photo, I knew what the caption would be, it would be simple, it would be heartfelt, and it would be…thank you! Thank you for producing the music that many times in my life growing up was the only thing I could turn to for hope, the only thing that whispered to me that dreams do come true.
A note scribbled on the wall by one of the Swampers as they left the building for the last time…
A note scribbled on the wall by one of the Swampers as they left the building for the last time…
…a note though that stood as testament to the magic of the building even as the building decayed around it. The building and studio have been bought by a nonprofit who painstakingly brought it back to as it was when music changed the world. To learn more about these historic studios get your hands on the documentary film: Muscle Shoals <p> Thanks cats,<br> db
…a note though that stood as testament to the magic of the building even as the building decayed around it. The building and studio have been bought by a nonprofit who painstakingly brought it back to as it was when music changed the world. To learn more about these historic studios get your hands on the documentary film: Muscle Shoals

Thanks cats,
db