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It’s no secret that Nashville is one of the world’s music capitals. However, it’s less widely known that just to the south lies a small town with a musical history on par with Nashville, Detroit and other important recording centers. Muscle Shoals, Ala., is a small city on the Tennessee River about 125 miles from Nashville that at one time wielded enormous musical influence and continues to play a role in the industry today.

The first hit to come out of the city’s studios was “You Better Move On” in 1961, recorded by Arthur Alexander. The music business took off, and by the 1970s hit records were rolling out of Fame Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound, a new company started by the session band from Fame.  These musicians — Jimmy Johnson, David Hood, Roger Hawkins, Junior Lowe and Barry Beckett — became known as the Swampers and were instrumental in developing a distinctive sound that fused elements of blues, country and R&B — the “Muscle Shoals Sound” that drew attention throughout the ’70s.

The list of artists with Muscle Shoals records is staggering. Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” was an early hit, while Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin had important cuts — Johnson and Hawkins both played on “Respect.” The Stones’ “Sticky Fingers” and Paul Simon’s “There Goes Rhyming Simon” albums were also recorded with Shoals. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s gives a nod to the Swampers and Shoals in “Sweet Home Alabama,” and the list goes on and on — Alabama, Shenandoah and countless others have ties to the city’s music industry.

Although less important than it used to be, the former “Hit Recording Capital of the World” still exerts some influence in the music business. Songs by local songwriters have been recorded by the Dixie Chicks, Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts, while Fame has signed a stable of upcoming artists including “Nashville Star” winner Angela Hacker and her brother Zach. Hopefully these artists will continue the legacy of great music that so many have enjoyed.