Year of Alabama Music brochure

1. 2011: Year of
Music
The hit song “Sweet Home Alabama” is not only a tribute to
the state, but is one of the best examples of Southern Rock.
Hank Williams, a country music pioneer, W.C. Handy, the “Fa-
ther of the Blues” and Dinah Washington, the “Queen of the
Blues” were all born in Alabama. Singer and songwriter Jimmy
Buffett grew up in Mobile.
Music studios in Muscle Shoals offer tours where international
superstars like Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cher, Otis
Redding and the Rolling Stones recorded hits. Sam Phillips,
who discovered Elvis and is credited with recording the first
rock ‘n roll song, is a Native Alabamian.
Alabama’s many music festivals and local music venues that
provide nightly entertainment will be spotlighted as the state
celebrates “The Year of Alabama Music” in 2011.
Alabama’s Music
You can experience where the rhythms of the blues, gospel,
R&B and country and western music combined to form Rock
‘n Roll across Alabama. Take a musical road trip through the
state – beginning in north Alabama and ending at the white,
sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
Muscle Shoals Area
Your journey begins in the northwest towns of Florence, Tus-
cumbia, Sheffield and Muscles Shoals, located just two hours
southeast of Elvis’ Graceland home in Memphis.
The “Father of the Blues,” W.C. Handy, was born in Florence
where the annual Handy Music Festival is held each summer.
The Elvis contract between Sam Phillips and RCA is located in
the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in nearby Tuscumbia. FAME
and Muscle Shoals Sound are two of the recording studios
located in these quaint Alabama cities where international
superstars like Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Percy Sledge
and the Rolling Stones recorded great hits in the 60s.
Muscle Shoals area music festivals include Sam Phillips Music
Festival in January and the W.C. Handy Music Festival the last week of July.
Huntsville
Huntsville is home to one of the state’s largest music events, Big Spring Jam, which is held in September in Big Spring
Park. The city’s downtown area hosts Washington Square, a mini entertainment district with live music. Just eight min-
utes away you can take a gondola boat ride at Bridge Street Town Centre.
Along with Big Spring Jam, smaller music events in Huntsville include Huntsville Sacred Harp Singing – Saturday be-
fore the First Sunday in May, North Alabama “Down Home” Blues Festival in May and the Tennessee Valley Old Time
Fiddlers Convention – first Friday and Saturday in October (Athens).
FAME Studios - Florence
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame - Muscle Shoals area
Bama Jam - Enterprise

2. Birmingham
In Birmingham, you can still hear jazz echoing from downtown
nightclubs such as Ona’s Music Room. Other downtown music
attractions include The Jazz Hall of Fame.
Birmingham area music festivals include the National Sacred
Harp Convention Thursday- Saturday before the third Sunday in
June, The Preserve Jazz Festival in June, Freedom Creek Blues
Festival – Last weekend in May (Aliceville), Horsepens 40 –
Spring, Fall Bluegrass Festival (Steele) and Schaeffer Crawfish
Boil (Birmingham).
In nearby Tuscaloosa, music can be enjoyed at the Crawfish
& Blues Festival – May and Black Belt Folk Roots Festival Ol’
Timey Blues Show – August (Eutaw).
Montgomery
Continue your trip southward to Alabama’s capital city of Mont-
gomery, the central point in the Hank Williams legend. Hank was
country music’s first superstar, selling 10 million records from
1947 to 1953. Hank’s final resting spot is located one mile from
the Hank Williams Museum which houses Hank artifacts includ-
ing the powder-blue Cadillac he was riding in when he died. Just
south of Montgomery in Georgiana is Hank Williams’ boyhood
home which is open for tours.
Montgomery area music festivals include Jubilee CityFest – May.
Smaller music events in and near Montgomery include Capitol
Rotunda Singing – Saturday before the first Sunday in February,
Hank Williams Birthday Celebration – September, and Hank Wil-
liams Festival – first weekend in June (Georgiana).
Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddler’s Convention -
Athens
Ona’s Music Room - Birmingham
Humphrey’s - Huntsville
2011: Year of Alabama Music
BayFest - MobileBayFest - Mobile

3. Mobile
The music highway continues south to Mobile, hometown of Jimmy
Buffett and where the historic port city of Mobile features delicious
seafood and an array of bars, restaurants and live music venues. Dau-
phin Street houses many nightclubs that have nightly performances
such as Boo Radley’s, Soul Kitchen, The Blind Mule and the Hurricane
Brewing Company.
A few miles away, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are resort towns with 32
miles of white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Live bands perform
at entertainment venues including The Hangout and the Flora-Bama; the
famous roadhouse beach bar right on the Alabama-Florida state line.
Alabama Gulf Coast music festivals include Mobile Bayfest – October.
Other music events in and around Mobile include Mardi Gras – Tuesday
before Ash Wednesday, Frank Brown Songwriters Festival – 10-day event
in November (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach), Crawfish Festival – April
(Faunsdale).
Music festivals on the beach include The Hangout Music Festival — May,
the National Shrimp Festival – second full weekend in October (Gulf
Shores) and the Mullet Toss – the last full weekend in April at the Flora-
Bama. (Orange Beach). Weekend concerts are regularly held at “The
Wharf,” an entertainment venue with shops and restaurants.
Other sites in Alabama include:
Livingston – Live music program featuring artists from West Alabama
and East Mississippi, the Sucarnochee Revue is taped for radio broadcast across America. Ideal for groups or individuals
looking for a 2 ½ hour show filled with dozens of acts performing inside a small southern college auditorium.
Enterprise – BamaJam is 3-day 3-night country music extravaganza held in June. Big name country music entertainers
perform on three stages. 2011 will mark the third year of the event.
Old Memphis, near Aliceville – Willie King’s annual Freedom Creek Blues Festival is held each May.
Fort Payne – The music group, ALABAMA, has their official fan club headquarters located in their hometown.
1048 Jazz and Blues - Montgomery
Hank Williams Museum - Montgomery
Ed’s Seafood Shed - Mobile
2011: Year of Alabama Music

4. Birmingham
Huntsville
Montgomery
Mobile
Dothan
Ariton
Decatur
Tuscumbia
Florence/Muscle Shoals
Florence-Memphis:
2 hours 45 minutes
Huntsville-Nashville:
2 hours
Mobile-New Orleans:
2 hours 30 minutes
Montgomery-Atlanta:
2 hours 30 minutes
Birmingham-Atlanta:
2 hours 30 minutes
Atlanta
Cullman
Gadsden
Fort Payne
Section
Limestone County
Hartselle
Madison
Tuscaloosa
Hackleburg
Prattville/Autaugaville
Tuskegee
Auburn
Monroeville
Georgiana
Atmore
Daphne
Bay Minette
Fairhope
Foley
Dauphin Island Gulf Shores
Orange Beach
Evergreen
Attractions/Venues:
America’s Oldest Mardi Gras,
LoDa Entertainment District
Music Legends:
Jimmy Buffett,The Excelsior
Attractions/Venues:
The Hangout,Pink Pony
Club,Flora-Bama,Shrimp
Festival,Mullet Toss,
The Wharf
Attractions/Venues:
Hank Williams Museum/Festival,
Jubilee CityFest,Downtown Alleyway
Music Legends:
Nat King Cole,Eddie Floyd,Bama State
Collegians & Clarence Carter
Wilson Pickett &
Georgia“Wild Child”Butler
Louvin Brothers
Delmore Brothers
Percy Sledge
Sonny James
Eutaw
Clarence Bluesman Davis
Talladega
Blind Boys of Alabama
Anniston
Cow Cow Davenport
Old Memphis
Willie King
Payneville
Adele“Vera”Hall
Livingston
Sucarnochee Revue
Crawfish Festival
Faunsdale
Ft.Deposit
Ed Bell
Red Bay
Leighton
Tammy Wynette
Alabama
Jerry McCain
Cleburne County
Denson Brothers
Willie Mae“Big Mama”Thornton
Hank Williams
Enterprise
Don“Lil”Jimmy Reed Atkins,
Curly Chalker
Commodores,Lionel Richie,
Golden Voices Choir
Auburn Knights Orchestra
Attractions/Venues:
Downtown Entertainment District
Music Legends:
Dinah Washington,John“Johnny”
Shines,Jimmy Day
Attractions/Venues:
Washington Square,
Big Spring Jam,
Bridge Street
Attractions/Venues:
AL Music Hall of Fame,the W.C.
Handy Home,FAME Studios,Jackson
Highway Studio
Music Legends:
W.C.Handy,Sam Phillips,
Muscle Shoals Studio Musicians
Attractions/Venues:
Jazz Hall of Fame,5 Points South,Lakeview,Ona’s Music Room
Music Legends:
Odetta Holmes,Lucille Bogan,Leola“Coot”Grant,Clarence“Pinetop”Smith,
Sam Lay,Erskine Hawkins,Sun Ra,Frank Adams,Eric Essix,Emmylou Harris,
the Temptations & Birmingham Sunlights
2011: Year of Alabama Music