Marlin Greene, Linda Hall, Clayton Ivey, and Candi Staton sit down for a discussion about how R&B, soul, country, and rock music came together in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This program was presented in support of the Museum’s exhibition “Muscle Shoals: Low Rhythm Rising,” sponsored by OneLouder, and was made possible in part by Pedigree and the Pedigree Foundation. This program was moderated by the Museum’s RJ Smith and was recorded on November 15, 2025.

During the program, Greene and Staton discuss their early days in Muscle Shoals and the different music they listened to while growing up in the area. Hall shares stories about her husband, Rick Hall, who founded create FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) Recording Studio. Ivey explains how he started his career as a keyboardist, made his way to Muscle Shoals from Florida, and work with Rick Hall at FAME.

A guitarist, producer, and singer-songwriter, Greene worked with Donny Fritts, Eddie Hinton, Dan Penn, Leon Russell, Boz Scaggs, and Percy Sledge at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Nicknamed “The First Lady of Muscle Shoals Music,” Linda Hall carries on the legacy of FAME while also co-owning and running six businesses. Gospel, country, and soul singer Staton is known for her recordings of “Jesus Is Listening,” “I’d Rather Be an Old Man’s Sweetheart (Than a Young Man’s Fool),” “Jolene,” and “Young Hearts Run Free.” Keyboardist, producer, and songwriter Ivey co-founded Wishbone Productions in 1972 and in addition to Staton has worked with Mac Davis, Marvin Gaye, Bobbie Gentry, and Hank Williams Jr.\

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