Experience Alabama’s Rich Musical Heritage

February 2022

Alabama has a rich history in music, and many people are not aware of how deep the state’s musical roots go. Alabama’s contributions to the music industry are vast and include well-known artists such as W.C. Handy, Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole and the Commodores. In recent history, the state has been known to produce American Idol winners and Grammy award-winning artists, such as Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell, John Paul White, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Jimmy Buffet and Lionel Richie to name a few. In addition to these home-grown artists, many world-renowned musicians have found solace and traveled to the state to record their music at Fame Studios or Muscle Shoals Sound in the Quad Cities area in Northwest Alabama. World-renowned musicians whose names you may recognize are the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers and Percy Sledge.  

Many legends have been made in Alabama with the sounds of award-winning music that is uniquely ours. Many have museums in hometowns across the state that are dedicated to their musical legacies and are just a road trip away. Plan your visit now to see where these legends were made.

W.C. Handy Birthplace, Museum and Library

Florence, Alabama

Born in 1873, William Christopher Handy is known as the “Father of the Blues.” He was born in a modest cabin in Florence, Alabama, that is today a museum that houses his memorabilia, important papers and artifacts. He went on to compose the well-known blues songs, St. Louis Blues, Beale Street Blues and Memphis Blues. To honor his contributions to music, the W.C. Handy Music Festival is held in Florence every summer. Musicians from all over the world perform at different venues throughout the city.

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Road Trip

Tuskegee, Alabama

Plan your road trip to the city that the Commodores and lead singer, Lionel Richie, made famous.  In 2012, Lionel Richie wrote a poignant letter to his hometown, Tuskegee, Alabama, when he released his album named after the city. In the letter, he stated: “This place called Tuskegee is where it all began – the place where I felt that everything was available and possible. It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries. Tuskegee also proved the perfect melting pot for all of my influences as a writer, and as my songwriting progressed, I realized that my songs perfectly translated to country music. Some people say you can never go home. In this case, I am home.”  Lionel Richie grew up in Tuskegee and while attending Tuskegee University, he and others in his freshman class formed the group The Commodores, an R&B Funk group. After gaining popularity in Alabama, the group traveled to New York City to play at Smalls Paradise Club. In 1971, the group opened for the Jackson 5 and soon after signed a record deal with Motown Records.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Nat King Cole Home

Montgomery, Alabama

Nat King Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1919.  As a son of a Baptist preacher, Cole got his start playing piano in the church where he also became known for his smooth vocal style. He was a trained classical pianist but abandoned the genre for his love of the jazz piano. He dropped out of school to pursue jazz full time at age 15.  By the 1950s, he became a well-known vocalist producing such hits as Unforgettable. And in 1956, he was the first African-American performer to host a variety television series entitled, The Nat King Cole Show. Cole’s songs have transcended the test of time and are still loved to this day by people from all over the world. 

While in Montgomery, you can visit Cole’s childhood home. It was moved from its original spot to the campus of Alabama State University. Currently, the home is viewable from curbside only. We’ve only scratched the surface by highlighting these musical legends. We invite you to experience all of those who have left or are leaving a legacy in the music industry by exploring the Music Experience page.