'Muscle Shoals' screening in Calhoun, Ga. - Mar. 24
Thursday, March 20, 2014
For Wilson Pickett, Muscle Shoals became a home where he could record so many of his hits, including "Land of 1,000 Dances." He's seen here at the height of his popularity in the FAME Studios.HOT LICKS
Tens of thousands of hit songs were recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala., including:* "I'll Take You There" (The Staple Singers)* "Brown Sugar" (The Rolling Stones) *"When a Man Loves a Woman" (Percy Sledge)* "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You" (Aretha Franklin)* "Mustang Sally" (Wilson Pickett)* "Tell Mama" (Etta James)* "Kodachrome" (Paul Simon)* "Free Bird" (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
The Gem Theatre in Calhoun, Ga., will host a screening of the acclaimed music documentary "Muscle Shoals" on Monday, March 24.
Muscle Shoals, Ala., might have been considered an unlikely breeding ground for the creative and defiant music produced in Rick Hall's FAME Studios (short for Florence Alabama Music Enterprises), but the "Muscle Shoals sound" changed the world. Starting in the late 1950s, Hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations, records that sold millions and millions of copies.
The 2013 documentary features present-day interviews with music luminaries such as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Gregg Allman, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Alicia Keys and Bono, along with members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Also known as The Swampers, this group of soul, R&B and country session musicians have appeared on more than 75 gold and platinum hits. Found footage, stills and a soundtrack of hits complete the project.
The screening starts at 7 p.m. at the Gem, 114 N. Wall St. Ticket are $10 for adults, $5 for students. For purchase information, call 706-625-3132 or visit www.calhoungem.org.