Do right by seeing Muscle Shoals

Published 12:00 pm Thursday, March 6, 2014

Rich soul, where strong musical roots have been laid, can be summed up in two words—Muscle Shoals.

It’s not only a beloved town it’s also a musical way of life.

Once known as “The Hit Recording Capitol of the World” the Muscle Shoals sound has created such hits as the Rolling Stone’s “Brown Sugar,” several Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan classics along with Bog Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.”

Encompassing all that talent in a beautifully crafted documentary film about that Muscle Shoals sound, Muscle Shoals was first screened last April at the Sundance Film Festival.

It was also shown at Lincoln Center in New York City and will be shown next Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m. is the East Alabama premiere of Muscle Shoals at The Historic Ritz Theatre in the Talladega downtown square.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students. There are group rates for five or more. 

“This is very special,” said George Culver, Executive Director for The Historic Ritz Theatre.

“Business and property owners have donated their windows on the North quad of the square for snapshots from Dick Cooper’s personal photograph collection, to be displayed in conjunction with the showing of Muscle Shoals,” said Daron Harris, promoter of the East Alabama Premiere of Muscle Shoals. “These musicians from Muscle Shoals (known as The Swampers) have become international cultural ambassadors by chance because of them being part of the history of our state, musically.”

Curating this project is local artist Tommy Moorehead.

Moorehead’s made several trips to Muscle Shoals to see the 17,000 personal pictures of Dick Cooper’s collection who is the curator of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and is a member of the board of directors for the Muscle Shoals Music Association.

“These were taken on the fly during recording sessions,” said Moorehead. “They were in no make-up. These were candid unscheduled shots.”

As the former director of Heritage Hall Museum Moorehead immediately saw an exhibit in these photographs and although he was unable to pursue the exhibit at Heritage Hall, Moorehead is excited to have the chance to tie them into the premiere.

“With the East Alabama Premiere here in Talladega it provided me the opportunity to revisit the exhibit since the movie is coming out. This gives a visual arts exhibit component to the premiere.”

Music is a universal language that brings not only neighboring citizens in St. Clair, Talladega and Colbert counties together, but also the Muscle Shoals Sound makes the state of Alabama one with the nation. 

One of the main men responsible for that Muscle Shoals sound is original Muscle Shoals Swampers Jimmy Johnson.

Johnson is session guitarist, engineer, producer…the list goes on, but at the forefront is his love for music and bringing those musical notes to life. That’s captured in Muscle Shoals.

“People are drawn to it on so many levels because of its sense of music history,” said Harris.

“There are so many recognizable acts where you’ll see the legends behind the legends,” said Moorehead.

A phenomenal interactive element The Ritz has added to the East Alabama Premiere of Muscle Shoals is the legendary Jimmy Johnson will be on hand for a question and answer session after the documentary airs.

“This is such an interesting event to add to the schedule,” said Culver. “These are first time film makers and we’re so pleased about the rich texture of Muscle Shoals that this premiere was warranted in our performing arts center.”

In fact, the Muscle Shoals soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy this year. 

The after party is at North Street Bar (on the corner a few doors down from The Ritz) and Alabama native Derrick Harris will perform.

Come enjoy the soundtrack of your life that was created in our very own backyards.

Muscle Shoals speaks to people from Pell City to Florence to Nashville to Austin through one word—music.

See for yourself “the incredible true story of a small town with a big sound.”

For tickets call The Ritz at 256-315-0000 or purchase them online at www.ritztalladega.com.