‘Gold Record Room’ a jaw-dropping tribute to Alabama’s ‘Hit Recording Capital of the World’

(Video above: WHNT goes inside “The Shoals Gold Record Room”)

FLORENCE, Ala. — “The Hit Recording Capital of the World.”

It’s a pretty audacious claim, at least until you read all the names.

Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynard, the Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, Percy Sledge, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, George Michael, Wilson Pickett, Bob Seger — the list could go on and on of legendary artists who recorded songs in northwest Alabama’s Shoals region that were ultimately heard all over the world.

Famous artists from numerous genres have traveled to the Shoals to capture the soulful sound that seems to only be produced by local musicians on the banks of the Tennessee River.

Memphis had Elvis. Minneapolis had Prince. Muscle Shoals had — and still has — The Swampers, a group of session musicians who have appeared on a jaw-dropping 75 gold and platinum records.

Suddenly the sign that once stood near the local airport that read “Hit Recording Capital of the World” seems less presumptuous and more like a simple statement of the facts.

This week the Alabama Music Hall of Fame announced it has teamed up with two north Alabama businessmen to develop a place that will remind the world of just how massive the area’s impact on the music industry has been for the past half-century.

The Shoals Gold Record Room will be located in the Suntrust bank building on Court Street in Florence and will feature 100 gold records, all of which were recorded in the Shoals.

“Once we got control of the building we thought it would be a perfect marriage to take this ideal space that is in such a great location and partner with people from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame as well as state tourism and put together the Shoals Gold Record Room,” said Bill Lyons, who owns the building along with Marty Abroms.

“It will be dedicated to showcase our Alabama music heritage,” Abroms added, “especially Shoals music artists.”

They also plan to use the space as something of a cultural hub for the area, with the University of North Alabama, the local fashion and arts industry and non-profit groups all expected to utilize the building for various events.

“Marty and Bill have always been very generous in their support of AMHOF,” said Alabama Music Hall of Fame board member Judy Hood. “(B)oth of them have an unwavering passion for the past, present and future of our area’s music.”

The grand opening of the Shoals Gold Record Room will take place 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday night, June 3rd. And, of course, there will be live music.