Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.
History
Native Indians first inhabited the lands bordered by the Tennessee River. There is no record of when the name Muscle Shoals was first used for the area. However, there are several theories as to where the name originated. One theory is that at one time there were piles of mussel shells found along the shoals of the Tennessee River. Another theory is that the shape of the river looks like the muscle in a man's arm, hence the name 'Muscle' Shoals. The last theory comes from several booklets that were published before Muscle Shoals incorporated. This theory states: 'Muscle Shoals, the Niagara of the South, derives its name from the Indians, who, attempting to navigate upstream, found the task almost impossible because of the strong current.' Thus, also, came the word muscle, symbolic of the strength required to 'paddle a canoe up the rapids.' The Shoals area, including Florence, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia, was first known as the Muscle Shoals district.In the early 1900s, Muscle Shoals was farm land with houses scattered among the cotton fields. In 1918, a year after the United States entered World War I, the building of Wilson Dam began. The United States needed nitrates for ammunition and explosives, prompting President Woodrow Wilson to approve the building of two nitrate plants and a dam to supply needed electricity for those plants. At its peak, the building of Wilson Dam employed more than 18,000 workers, including some from what is now Muscle Shoals. The construction site consisted of 1,700 temporary buildings, 236 permanent buildings, 185 residential units, and 685 miles of electrical cable. There were also 23 mess halls, a school for 850 students, an 85-bed hospital, and 3 barber shops.In 1921, automotive tycoon Henry Ford, accompanied by Thomas Edison, came to Muscle Shoals with a vision of transforming the area into a metropolis. The instant rumors of Ford’s plan caused a real estate boom, and speculators began buying up land and parceling it out in 25 foot lots. During this time, people from all over the United States bought lots sight unseen. Mr. Ford’s offer to buy Wilson Dam for $5 million was turned down by the United States Congress. (The initial cost of the construction of the dam was $46.5 million.) Instead, Congress, under the influence of Senator George Norris of Nebraska, later formed the Tennessee Valley Authority to develop the dam as well as the entire river valley. This plan was made a part of the New Deal. Although Ford’s plans did not materialize, they did lay the foundation for the city of Muscle Shoals.As the area became more populated, there came a desire by men of the area to incorporate. On March 7, 1923, a petition was presented to the Probate Judge of Colbert County to incorporate the town of Muscle Shoals. The petition was signed by 45 men and women that resided within the boundaries of the proposed area. An election was held on March 31, 1923. The inspectors, Lewis Gusmus, George A. Lehbert, and R.H. Huston, gave the final vote count at 361 votes for 'Corporation' and 6 votes for 'No Corporation'. The list of inhabitants residing within the town of Muscle Shoals, which were enumerated by the above inspectors under a decree entered by N.P. Tompkins, Judge of Probate of Colbert County, included 460 white and 267 colored, making a total of 727 people in Muscle Shoals. The incorporation of the 'Town of Muscle Shoals' was made official on April 24, 1923. An order also called for the election of a Mayor and five aldermen. On May 28, 1923, George McBride was elected the first mayor of Muscle Shoals with a total of 26 votes. The aldermen elected were Henry Green, George Harris, Robert Huston, George Vaughn and R.F. Tucker.During the first 20 years of incorporation, town development was very slow, boasting only 1,113 residents by 1940. By this time, some of the residential property had been sold for taxes and some at the local market value. This change to local ownership opened the way for growth and development of the new city. In the 1950s, under a commission form of government and a recognized area chamber of commerce, an industrial boom began. Reynolds Metals and Union Carbide Metals were quick to convert to peacetime production. Diversification came with Diamond Shamrock, Ford Motor Company, and many others locating in Colbert County.In the early 1960s, Rick Hall brought FAME Recording Studios to Muscle Shoals. Famous bands and singers, including Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Osmonds, Mac Davis, and Duane Allman came to Muscle Shoals to record hit songs at FAME. In 1998, it was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.The 1990s brought major change to the city of Muscle Shoals. In 1992, Muscle Shoals became the last city in the state of Alabama to abandon the commission form of government for the mayor/council form of government. The city also made significant progress in public works with a new post office, a new city library, a flood control plan, a early warning weather siren system, and a new high school. In more recent years, the city has constructed a new fire station and city hall.
Geography
Muscle Shoals is located at 34°45′03″N 87°39′01″W / 34.750788°N 87.650278°W / 34.750788; -87.650278.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.5 km²), 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 979.7 people per square mile (378.3/km²). There were 5,010 housing units at an average density of 411.6/sq mi (158.9/km²). 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, Sheffield and Tuscumbia, all of them in 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 might assume that everyone in residence is a part-time songwriter or musician. The community's contribution to American popular music during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s is staggering, and the tradition continues to the present day.In addition to being home to country music band Shenandoah, a number of artists have made successful pilgrimages to Muscle Shoals in an effort to escape the limelight, and write and 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. George Michael recorded an early, unreleased version of 'Careless Whisper' in Muscle Shoals in 1983, which was produced by the late, legendary Jerry Wexler, a fixture at the studios throughout the 1960s and 1970s.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 along the Tennessee River, and often perform in area nightclubs, typically rehearsing new material to an audience of unjaded locals. Among the musical celebrities with homes in the area are George Strait, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. Former home of George Jones whose #1 song 'He Stopped Loving Her Today' was voted #1 sad song for the last century.[citation needed]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 unusual about the area, musically speaking, 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 styles in their work and white artists from the Shoals frequently borrowed from the 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 stated in his autobiography that Muscle Shoals (primarily radio station WLAY (AM), which had 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.Muscle Shoals has received attention from the lyrics in Lynyrd Skynynd's 'Sweet Home Alabama,' stating 'Muscle Shoals has got The Swampers, and they've been known to pick a song or two.' This is an example of a line in a song that is well known, but little understood. The Swampers are a session band in Muscle Shoals.On January 6, 2010, Muscle Shoals was added to the Mississippi Blues Trail.
In music
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.' Every year since 1982, the W. C. Handy Music Festival is held in the Florence/Sheffield/Muscle Shoals area, featuring blues, jazz, country, gospel, rock music and R & B. The roster of jazz musicians known as the 'Festival All-Stars,' or as the W. C. Handy Jazz All-Stars, includes noted musicians from all over the United States, such as guitarist Mundell Lowe, drummer Bill Goodwin, pianist/vocalist Johnny O'Neal, vibraphonist Chuck Redd, pianist/vocalist Ray Reach, flautist Holly Hofmann, and many others.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 that very song, 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.'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's owner Rick Hall 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, people at Pickett's label (Atlantic Records) asked who had played the guitar solos on the record. Hall responded with a hand-written note that read 'some hippie cat who's been living in our parking lot.' Shortly afterward, 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 taken as satirical; recording in the Bible Belt, it was thought, might avert 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 regarded today 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/And they've been known to pick a song or two/Lord, they get me off so much/They pick me up when I'm feelin' blue.' The Swampers were a group of studio musicians who were available if backup was needed. They were given this name by Leon Russell. Lynyrd Skynyrd saw gold and platinum records bearing the words 'To The Swampers' 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.Muscle Shoals Sound was one of the hottest tracking rooms of the day, while FAME was a full production studio working on entire projects to completion.The members of the Muscle Shoals Sound 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. In 2008, State Line Mob,a Southern Rock duo group formed by singer & songwriters Phillip Crunk (Florence native) & Dana Crunk (Rogersville native),released their Debut Cd,Ruckus & Won 2 Muscle Shoals Music Awards for 2008 for (Best New Artist) & Best New Country Album) of the year.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), there is a group of young musicians that are making waves again in the musical world. These include Drive-By Truckers, Gary Nichols, Jason Isbell, State Line Mob, Eric 'Red Mouth' Gebhardt, Fiddleworms, Jamie Barrier and The Pine Hill Haints, Sons of Roswell, Lauderdale, Barrelmouth, Angela Hacker, Zac Hacker, Mike Pyle, The Ugli Stick, Jami Grooms, James LeBlanc, and BoomBox.In 2006 the group Heartland recorded their number-one award winning song 'I Loved Her First,' produced and penned by Shoals legend Walt Aldridge. In 2007 Bettye Lavette's Grammy nominated CD 'The Scene of the Crime' was recorded at FAME Recording Studios, produced by Patterson Hood and Drive-By Truckers. The Truckers also backed Lavette on the record, with contributions from David Hood and Spooner Oldham.The second Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, located at 1000 Alabama Avenue in Sheffield, closed its doors in 2005 and now houses a movie production company.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 1970s state.
Schools
The Muscle Shoals City school system enjoys a reputation for its rigorous academic standards. In March 2008, after an intense evaluation, Muscle Shoals High School and Howell-Graves Preschool were awarded the Lighthouse Award by the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. The system is currently led by Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wooten. There are seven schools in the district:Muscle Shoals High School.........Principal H.L. Noah
Muscle Shoals Center for Technology...Principal Sylvia Coleman
Muscle Shoals Middle School...........Principal Mary Ann Stegall
McBride Elementary School.............Principal Brian Lindsey
Highland Park Elementary School.......Principal Hal Horton
Webster Elementary School.............Principal Dan Starkey
Howell Graves Preschool...............Principal Tim Morgan
