Alabama's Musical Heritage

Visit Alabama and you will find a state with it’s roots deep in music. Somewhere that's played a central role in the development of Blues and Country music worldwide. The footsteps of some great Alabama music legends can be followed here - Nat King Cole,  Hank Williams,  W.C Handy, Jimmy Buffett and Tammy Wynette, to name but a few.

Muscle Shoals, Alabama

• Home to Muscle Shoals Sound Studios and FAME Studios which were used frequently by superstars like Aretha Franklin, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Otis Redding who all made classic recordings there.
• The documentary “Muscle Shoals”, features Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards and others talking about the sound that came out of recording studios in the northwest corner of the state.
• Read our unmissable 48 hours in The Shoals article.

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

• The Alabama Music Hall of Fame first opened its doors in 1990 to celebrate Alabama musical icons, from Hank Williams to Nat King Cole.
• The Hall features: the tour bus of the band Alabama; a wax figure of Hank Williams wearing an original stage suit; and a wax figure of Nat King Cole at his piano. There are instruments, apparel and memorabilia from many other Alabama performers, including Lionel Richie, EmmyLou Harris, Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge and Tommy Shaw of Styx. 

W.C.Handy - Father of the Blues

• In nearby Florence, legendary figure W.C.Handy the ‘Father of the Blues’ was born in a simple log cabin, which is now a popular museum.
• The annual W.C.Handy Music Festival, a great celebration of Blues and Jazz, is held every July in the Shoals.

 Jazz in Birmingham

• Jazz enthusiasts head downtown to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame located in the historic Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts; this museum pays tribute to great jazz artists with ties to Alabama like Nat King Cole, Sun Ra, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and Erskine Hawkins.

Hank Williams

• Montgomery, Alabama’s State Capital, is where Hank Williams lived from 1937 to 1948.
• The Hank Williams Museum on Commerce Street documents the life of this Country Music pioneer famous for such classics as ‘Hey Good Lookin’ and ‘Cold Cold Heart’, also home to the annual Hank Williams Songwriting Contest.
• Follow The Hank Williams Trail south to Mount Olive where he was born and to Georgiana his boyhood home as well as Andalusia where he married Audrey Sheppard, the influence for many of his songs.

Mardi Gras in Alabama

• The Mobile Mardi Gras dating back to 1703 claims to be the first and organisers take pride in this ‘family friendly’ celebration of art and music. The two week event culminates every year on ‘Fat Tuesday’, the day before Lent.

For further information email alabama@deep-south-usa.com or contact the experts!