Muscle Shoals Reunion Allmans Past and Present
By Nancy Lewis-Pegel On July 18 – 20, 2014 Muscle Shoals, AL
was witness to an educational, musical and spiritual reunion. Music put this town on the map thanks to the plethora of iconic hits that flowed from the FAME recording studios and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio beginning in 1960’s. Artists such as Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, etc. made their way to this northwestern Ala- bama town to tap into the R&B magic that seemed to be minted in their studios. Many also know that a young Duane Allman set off for FAME in 1968 and persistently lobbied owner Rick Hall to get a chance to be a ses- sion musician for their superstar clients. Rick agreed and history was made. Forward to 2014. Promoter Dan Randolph
worked with the WC Handy Fest organizers in Florence, AL to create a show featuring Cow- boy; Boyer & Talton with Galadrielle Allman, author of the biography “Please Be With Me, A Song For My Father, Duane Allman” at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, aka 3614 Jack- son Highway. The first show sold out quickly so a second day was added. After that sold right out, FAME Studios were approached for a 3rd night location. Dan’s basic reason to use those studios to
stage these shows was “that’s where it all got started.” This was quite literally true for Gal- adrielle, as she noted during her reading she was actually conceived in Duane’s cabin in Muscle Shoals. Cowboy recorded their classic song “Please Be With Me” at Muscle Shoals Sound, with Duane Allman adding guitar. Further, Duane was instrumental in them getting Cowboy signed to Capricorn Records.
Tommy Talton.
lowed by Galadrielle reading to the rapt crowd from her book. She chose the chapter dealing with Duane’s time in Muscle Shoals, to their delight. Then Scott and Tommy joined her on stage, telling stories and taking questions. Rick Hall had high praise for Cow- boy’s music and Tommy Talton’s guitar tone
Tommy Talton remembered the magnetism Duane possessed in making his ideas happen. And Studio B at FAME was where Duane first jammed with Jaimoe and Berry Oakley, birthing the first notes the Allman Brothers Band would ever play. The evening began with Scott Boyer & Tommy Talton playing an acoustic set, fol-
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