Since it first opened its doors, FAME has welcomed a literal who’s who of music royalty from Etta James, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin to Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, and Jason Isbell. The famous sign above the entryway into FAME’s studios reads: “Through these doors walk the finest Musicians, Songwriters, Artists, and Producers in the World”.

Beginning with the legendary session that produced Jimmy Hughes’ “Steal Away”, FAME has been producing chart-topping hits ever since. Hall took that money, along with a borrowed $10,000, built and moved the studio to its current location at 603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals. With Arthur Alexander’s “You Better Move On”. This is where Muscle Shoals would have its first international success. In 1960, Hall took over sole ownership and shortened the name to the acronym FAME and temporarily moved to Wilson Dam Highway in Muscle Shoals. Originally housed above City drugstore in Florence, Alabama, Florence Alabama Music Enterprises was founded in 1959 by Rick Hall, Billy Sherrill and Tom Stafford. Fame Recording Studios is where it all Started and where that sound lives on today. It’s the sound that implored a generation of musicians to travel to the southern banks of the Tennessee river, searching for a bit of that Muscle Shoals magic. Many words have been used to describe the Muscle Shoals sound. Any discussion about American music that doesn’t include Muscle Shoals, Alabama isn’t really a discussion at all.

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