MUSIC ON THE WATER
THE SHOALS
The region we call “The Shoals” is actually a cluster of four Alabama cities spanning two counties, tucked right near the Tennessee line. Like Nashville, Muscle Shoals, Florence, Tuscumbia and Sheffield are Music Cities in their own right, and the perfect southern border to Nashville’s Big Back Yard.
Singing Heritage
Right on the banks of the Tennessee River, this area was once home to Native Americans who settled near the “singing river” -- so named for the sound of the shallow, treacherous rapids flowing over the rocky deposits called “shoals.” In the 1960s and 70s, the area was home to the music studios that produced some of the most revolutionary records of the era.
Legacy of Sound
Muscle Shoals Sound and Fame Studios recorded everyone from the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin to the Allman Brothers and Cher, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Now-iconic local house bands brought a swirling mix of blues and country influence to the stars’ recordings, leaving a mark as the “Muscle Shoals Sound” and earning the Shoals its title as the Hit Recording Capital of the World. Music is still a driving force in the region, with both studios still welcoming national artists to record and live music punctuating every outing and event. The Shoals is an important slice of the Americana Music Triangle.