Review
by Joseph O. Patton
Editor and Publisher
Capital City Free Press, Montgomery, AL

Most music lovers associate the great hits of our time with places like Nashville, New York or Los Angeles. It's a tribute to the state of Alabama and a pleasant surprise to discover that in tiny Muscle Shoals, a wealth of hits and high profile artists have sprung for decades now.

Christopher Fuqua's Music Fell on Alabama, hitting the market October 1 from NewSouth Books of Montgomery, offers a candid and enlightening look at how the Shoals area, consisting of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle Shoals, has played a huge role in shaping today's pop music, from Aretha Franklin and Cher to Paul Simon and the Rolling Stones, all of whom and countless other prominent artists have recorded in the Shoals.

At its core, Music Fell on Alabama follows the rise and impact of two Muscle Shoals studios, FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound, driven by candid interviews with the producers and musicians who brought the businesses to life. The book also shares the story behind the establishment of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, which is located in Tuscumbia.

Music Fell on Alabama also includes a sizable section devoted to biographical sketches and professional histories of noted musical personalities who are Alabama natives, including Hank Williams, W.C. Handy, Nat King Cole, Lionel Richie and Emmylou Harris. The book also includes a provocative piece of commentary from Fuqua, who offers his take on the current state of American radio stations and music trends.

Music Fell on Alabama is easily digestible, coupling a brief factual history of the Shoals' music legacy with humorous tales of the artists and personalities who made it happen. Fuqua's approach to the book provides a smooth, informative and entertaining read. It also provides Alabamians, especially those who treasure music, a tangible record of something to be proud of. Rock on, Mr. Fuqua.

Christopher Fuqua is also the author of Divorced Dads, Notes to My Becca and Deadlines, a series including four audio books. His short stories and poetry have appeared in many national publications.