Muscle Shoals

Muscle Shoals sits along the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama and houses several recording studios and music production facilities. The city extends along the riverbank, connecting residential neighborhoods with commercial areas.

The federal agency for electrifying the Tennessee Valley built large hydroelectric plants and dams along the river during the thirties. These projects brought industry and jobs to the region, which had been mainly agricultural before.

The city's studios drew musicians from across the country during the sixties, who came here to record albums. Local session musicians developed a sound that combined blues, country, and rhythm and blues.

The regional airport facility sits east of downtown and offers flight connections for travelers. The music studios can often be visited during organized tours that should be booked in advance.

The river here earned its name from the mussel shoals at the bottom and fast water that early boat pilots had to navigate. The word shoals refers to both the shallows and the currents found in this section.

Location: Colbert County

Inception: April 24, 1923

Elevation above the sea: 152 m

Shares border with: Sheffield, Tuscumbia

Website: http://cityofmuscleshoals.com

GPS coordinates: 34.75083,-87.65028

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03