Alabama Arts and Culture

April 2022

Visitors to Alabama can explore the history of the state by taking road trips through the backroads to tour the small towns filled with local restaurants, shops and attractions. This time of the year is a great time to travel to areas that have greatly impacted the history of the state or even the country.  One area that is rich in music history is the Quad-cities in the Northwest corner of the state:  Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia. Legend has it that the largest spiritual influence in the area is the Tennessee River, which locals call the “Singing River,” and that is why the area is rich in musical talent. 

Many musicians found their way to the area during rock-n-roll's golden era to record some of the age’s transcending music.  This music not only solidified its rightful place in shaping the history of a generation, but it also is still relevant to the music industry.  The Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin are among the many well-known musicians who wanted to record with the “Muscle Shoals sound” as back-up. The “Swampers” are the Quad-city’s session musicians who backed up these famous recording artists and who were in high demand.  The area also is the birthplace of the Father of the Blues, W.C. Handy. His life and contributions to the music industry are celebrated every summer during a music festival named in his honor.