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Rocket City Rock Soul: The Story of Alabama's Music Scene

Charles Dickens

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Published in Rocket City Rock Soul: Huntsville Musicians Remember The 1960s (American Chronicles)

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In the heart of Dixie, where the Tennessee River meets the Appalachian Mountains, lies a city that has played a pivotal role in the history of American music. Huntsville, Alabama, known as "Rocket City" for its role in the space race, is also home to a vibrant and diverse music scene that has produced some of the biggest names in rock, soul, and country music.

Rocket City Rock & Soul: Huntsville Musicians Remember the 1960s (American Chronicles)

by Jane DeNeefe

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2621 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	131 pages

The story of Alabama's music scene begins in the early 20th century, with the rise of the blues. Blues musicians from across the South flocked to Alabama's cities, drawn by the promise of work in the cotton fields and factories. In Birmingham, a young guitarist named Clarence Carter began playing the blues in juke joints and honky-tonks. Carter's unique style, which blended elements of blues, soul, and gospel, would later earn him the title of "The Godfather of Southern Soul."

In the 1950s, as rock and roll began to take hold across the country, Alabama's musicians began to experiment with the new sound. In Muscle Shoals, a small town on the Tennessee River, a group of studio musicians known as the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section began to make a name for themselves. The Rhythm Section's unique sound, which blended elements of soul, funk, and country, would later become known as the "Muscle Shoals sound."

In the 1960s, Alabama's music scene exploded onto the national stage. Jimmy Buffett, a singer-songwriter from Mobile, released his debut album in 1970 and quickly became one of the most popular artists in the country. Hank Williams Jr., the son of country music legend Hank Williams, also began his career in the 1960s, and his unique blend of country and rock music would later make him one of the most successful country artists of all time.

Today, Alabama's music scene continues to thrive. The state is home to a number of music festivals, including the W.C. Handy Music Festival in Florence and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Muscle Shoals. And a new generation of Alabama musicians, such as Jason Isbell, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Alabama Shakes, are carrying on the state's rich musical tradition.

Rocket City Rock Soul is the definitive story of Alabama's music scene, from its humble beginnings in the early 20th century to its rise to national prominence in the 1960s and beyond. Featuring exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in Alabama music, Rocket City Rock Soul is a must-read for any fan of American music.

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Rocket City Rock Soul Book Cover Rocket City Rock Soul: Huntsville Musicians Remember The 1960s (American Chronicles)