Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

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The distinctive Muscle Shoals sound moved from FAME Studios in 1969 when Barry Beckett (keyboards), Roger Hawkins (drums), Jimmy Johnson (guitar) and David Hood (bass) created their Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. They were the first rhythm section to own their own studios and, eventually, their own publishing and production companies. The distinctive accompaniment and arrangements have been heard on a tremendous number of legendary recordings, including those from Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and the Staple Singers amongst others.

The original rhythm section that broke away to create these studios first formed in 1967 and initially played sessions in New York and Nashville as well as on the famous FAME recordings. The initial successes led to the arrival of more mainstream rock and pop performers all desperate to pick up on the group's golden touch, among them The Rolling Stones, Traffic, Boz Scaggs, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, and even 1950s rock band Bill Haley & His Comets (who recorded their final two albums at Muscle Shoals) as well as the 'next' generation of soul talent such as Bobby Womack and Millie Jackson.

In 1978, new facilities were created on the banks of the Tennessee River, which included a then state of the art two studio complex - they also launched their own record label, signing such artists as Delbert McClinton, Frankie Miller and Levon Helm. The studios were sold to Malaco in 1985 and the sound remains intact to this day and can be heard on the contemporary work on this label by the likes of Bobby 'Blue' Bland, Dorothy Moore, Z.Z. Hill and Shirley Brown. Barry Beckett has also got involved in production work and especially noteworthy are his efforts with the great Etta James, including "Seven Year Itch" in 1989 and "Sticking To My Guns" the following year.