TUSCUMBIA, Ala. — STEM and rockets aren't the only thing Alabama is known for. In fact, Sandra Burroughs, Executive Director of the Music Hall of Fame of Alabama, often tells people Alabama is where music started. "The music culture in Alabama is so rich and so steeped. I often tell people this is actually where music started. I mean, we are so proud of our musical heritage here."
Alabama is also the birthplace of the Christmas classic, "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" that was actually written by Hugh Martin from Birmingham. "Tidbits like that is what people come through and they don't know," Burroughs shares.
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame was a dream and goal of the Muscle Shoals Music Association, a Shoals-area based professional organization of producers, musicians, songwriters, recording studio owners and other music professionals. In 1980, the Muscle Shoals Music Association and the state Legislature, under the leadership of State Senator Bobby Denton, created the Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board with a mandate to honor Alabama’s great music achievers and to build a facility in which to showcase these talented individuals and their accomplishments.
"People often say, 'I didn't know Jim Nabors was from Alabama. I didn't know Lionel Richie was, I didn't know The Commodores [were] from Alabama. I didn't know Jimmy Buffett had roots in Alabama.' But and that's what you find when you come to the Music Hall of Fame." Burroughs shares.
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame is the place where many Alabama artists are on full display and now a new class of hall of fame inductees are getting ready to be honored. Those inductees include:
- Earl ‘Peanutt’ Montgomery
- Dr. Henry Panion, III
- Three on a String
- Jeanne Pruett
- Jim McBride
- Leblanc & Carr
"What stands out about Pete Carr is that he played the opening guitar riff to 'Mainstreet'," Burroughs shares. "So every time I hear that song, it just always brings a smile on my face, because I think 'that's Pete'. We unfortunately lost Pete in '21 due to COVID, but we have just a wonderful variety of talent that we're going to be showcasing with our next class of inductees."
The honorees will be celebrated on March 23rd at the Muscle Shoals Marriott. Information on the event can be found here.