Throughout April, the library will feature a display celebrating the 56th anniversary of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.
The display will be available in the Collier Library. It will include a selection of record albums from Muscle Shoals Record Shop. This is to offer students a view into the types of music created at the studio.
“This project is a celebration of the artists and the unforgettable music that have shaped the studio’s legacy,” said Elliston.
A press release said artists like Paul Simon, The Staple Singers, Dr. Hook, Linda Ronstadt and Rod Stewart have all recorded music at the studio.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, founded in April 1969 by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, The Swampers, became a hotspot for popular recordings. Cher was the studio’s inaugural artist. She recorded her “3614 Jackson Highway” album there.
“This marked the beginning of a legacy,” the release said.
In addition to its legacy, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio is still an active recording venue. In 2013, Dr. Dre’s Beats Electronics donated to the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation. This helped restore the studio to its former glory. More recent artists, such as Lana Del Rey, have recorded there. In 2021, Chris Stapleton’s song “Cold”, recorded at the studio, won a Grammy.
Over the years, the studio has released 312 albums, 75 gold singles, 14 multi-platinum singles and over 100 top ten singles.
This display is part of a project and internship by Liz Rogers Elliston, a UNA undergraduate majoring in professional writing. Elliston is interning at the studio and is delighted to participate in the project.
“I invite UNA students and faculty to explore this exhibit at Collier Library and then experience the history firsthand with a tour of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio,” said Elliston. “It’s incredible how much talent has come out of that unassuming building on Jackson Highway in Sheffield, Alabama.”
