I remember saying many times back in the 60s "Man, that band sure can play!" after hearing some hot rhythm and blues or soul music on the radio.

Then many decades later I find out that not all things are what they appear to be.

This story may surprise you. It may shock you to find out who was really playing those instruments. You may even be a bit disappointed, but I think you'll find this very interesting to say the least.

Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Rick Hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations. He is responsible for creating the “Muscle Shoals sound” and The Swampers, the house band at FAME Studios that eventually left to start its own successful studio known as Muscle Shoals Sound. Gregg Allman and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals’ magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today.

Source

This post is part two of a series on 60s/70s session musicians and the studios they play out of as promised in this comment from this Open Thread. These guys played on so many great songs of my youth much like The Wrecking Crew over on the left coast, only these cats are from the swamps of the deep south. This is a great story and I hope you find it engaging.