1. 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, 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 musical history.
   
   
2. 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 such as Arthur Alexander and James Carr 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 distinct sound.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. On January 6, 2010, Muscle Shoals was added to the Mississippi Blues Trail.
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
6. 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."
   
   
7. 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.
   
   

By Race

White

Black

Native American

Asian

Hispanic

Total Population

83.88%

14.16%

0.38%

0.56%

1.16%

Because Hispanics could be counted in other races, the totals above could possibly be more than 100%. If you would like a detailed listing of all ethnic groups in the U.S., please Click Here.

A small percentage of the businesses listed on BlackCityInfo.com may not necessarily be black owned and operated but have received favorable reviews from users who have visited the establishment, or from the owners themselves who warmly seek out African American patronage.

DINING - CATERING

1. Southern Bar B Que -  Category: Bar B Que -   1686 N Wilson Dam Rd, Muscle Shoals, AL (256) 389-9155
   
   

Music History of Muscle Shoals Alabama.

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CHURCHES

1. Mt Zion AME Church -  Hawkins Crk, Muscle Shoals, AL 35646 (256) 446-6584
   
   

ANNUAL EVENTS

1. W.C. Handy Music Festival
   10 day series of events held each year around the last full week of July.   - (visit website)
   
   W.C. Handy Music Festival, the Shoals. The official website sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc. Honoring the life and music of WC Handy - Father of the Blues.