Rick Hall was born to a family of sharecroppers in Tishomingo County, MS, and was raised in Franklin County, AL. He moved to Rockford, IL, as a teenager and began playing in local bar bands. He went on to become a record producer, songwriter, music publisher, and musician who is best known as the owner and proprietor of the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. FAME is the oldest studio in the world still operating under the same owner.
Rick won a trustees Grammy Award for lifetime achievement with his documentary Muscle Shoals. He lives in Muscle Shoals, AL.
Peter Guralnick has been called a national resource by
critic Nat Hentoff for work that has argued passionately and
persuasively for the vitality of this country's intertwined black
and white musical traditions. His books include the prize-winning
two-volume biography of Elvis Presley, Last Train to Memphis,
Careless Love, Sweet Soul Music, and Dream Boogie: The Triumph of
Sam Cooke. His biography of Sam Phillips is scheduled to be
published in 2015.
"If anyone were ever meant to write a book about music, it would be
Rick Hall. If anyone were meant to write a book about Muscle
Shoals, Alabama music, that too would be Rick Hall. You can't be a
music fan without being touched by the sounds that Rick has
influenced. He has few, if any, equals. The music that Rick has
been a part of will live and be played and be heard as long as
there are speakers and radios, and as long as the Tennessee River
flows. He has cotton field genius. You can't teach it; you can't
learn it, and you can't copy it. You have to live it. I wanna
congratulate Rick and his beautiful wife Linda and thank them for
sharing one of the greatest musical stories. I'm proud to know you,
Rick."
Randy Owen, Alabama "I'm grateful for my association with Rick. He
was the one who inspired the creation and magic of many of my
career's early records. It's fascinating for me to read his
perspective on how it all began. I'll always be appreciative to
Rick for taking a chance, not just on the Osmonds, but on me
particularly. I doubt I would have had the career I enjoy today
without the genius of Rick Hall."
Donnie Osmond "I've known Rick Hall for some fifty years now. It's
because of his indomitable spirit and old- fashioned work ethic
that my biggest hits were recorded at his FAME studio in Muscle
Shoals, Alabama. This wonderful book answers a lot of questions
about the " Muscle Shoals Mystique" and yes, there IS " something
in the water" down there..."
Mac Davis "Rick Hall's "The Man from Muscle Shoals" is a great
read! The epitome of hard work, raw drive and belief in one's self,
Rick shows how he overcame personal tragedy, disappointment and
powerful industry opposition to establish and transform the small
country town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama into a world renown
recording mecca."
Larry King "The moment I stepped into Rick Hall's Fame Recording
Studios, I felt a buzz! I was giddy like a little girl with
excitement! The history, fellowship and talent of the artists who'd
come before enveloped and surrounded me and it was powerful. I
tasted it on my lips, it sank down to my heart. I wanted to absorb
and revel in the ambiance where the beautiful music was created and
has gone on to move generations."
GRAMMY TRUSTEES AWARD By Alicia Keys "There's an unwritten mantra
in the world and business of entertainment, which states that one
never knows where and when extraordinary and unique talent may come
from. Rick Hall is perhaps one of those who personifies that
concept, coming from a town, and a time which never could have been
predicted to yield such an iconic and game-changing creative force,
who continues to influence creative musicians and please
music-loving fans all around the globe. "
Neal Portnow, President, National Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences (Grammy's). "I looked at him and said, so this is Rick
Hall, this is FAME recording studios, and I'm in Alabama and I'm
gonna get some of this Alabama mud. Rick Hall was the 1st white man
I had seen that had that kind of soul; he was an engineer that was
soulful. I would be so hard headed and say, don't tell me nothing,
but I finally realized that
everything he used to badger me about, he was always right."
Etta James "I was there to make it work period. We would sit there
and make that record together, I was singing along, Rick Hall stuck
there every minute; we would all work it out together. Rick Hall
was his own engineer; he built the studio he knew all the electric
wiring in there. After my 1st night in that studio I was convinced
that this could be my recording home. Rick Hall and I were the real
nitty gritty right down in the cold nitty gritty."
Wilson Pickett "Rick Hall is a classic American hero who denied
being defeated or overcome by tragedy. Despite heart wrenching
odds, he triumphed to birth the quintessential 'Muscle Shoals
Sound' known and revered by musicians while also helping to craft
some of the world's greatest rock, pop, country, and soul music
ever."
Stephen Badger, Producer, & Greg 'Freddy' Camalier, Producer &
Director, Muscle Shoals
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