Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Original Site of FAME Recording Studio

early 1960's

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 27, 2020

1. Original Site of FAME Recording Studio Marker

Inscription. This marks the site of the pioneering music company of Florence Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME), a name which became renowned worldwide as the home of "the Muscle Shoals Sound". FAME was founded in the early 1960's by three young local entrepreneurs (Rick Hall, Billy Sherrell and Tom Stafford) who improvised a make-shift studio in a vacant room above the City Drug Store that once stood here. FAME'S earliest recording sessions launched the careers of such music business legends as Arthur Alexander, Rick Hall, Billy Sherrell, Norbert Putnam, David Briggs, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, and many others.

Following limited success, the partnership dissolved. Rick Hall took the publishing company and FAME name in return for the studio equipment. He relocated the studio to an empty tobacco warehouse in Muscle Shoals. His next recording of “You Better Move On”, by Arthur Alexander, was acclaimed as the Shoals first world-wide best seller. Over the next several decades FAME recording studios became one of the most successful producers of rhythm and blues, pop and country music in the world. Rick Hall became known as the “ Father of the Muscle Shoals Sound”.

Erected by Florence

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Historical Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1960.

Location. 34° 48.048′ N, 87° 40.489′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is at the intersection of East Tennessee Street (Alabama Route 22) and North Seminary Street, on the right when traveling west on East Tennessee Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Downtown Florence Historic District

Original Site of FAME Recording Studio Marker (rear) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 27, 2020

2. Original Site of FAME Recording Studio Marker (rear)

(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Founding of Florence (about 500 feet away); City of Florence (about 500 feet away); First Presbyterian Church (about 500 feet away); Southall Drugs (about 600 feet away); Justice John McKinley Federal Building (about 600 feet away); Wheeler Rifles (about 600 feet away); Florence Synodical Female College (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Also see . . . FAME Studio History. From FAME Studios' website. (Submitted on September 28, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 27, 2020

3. Original Site of FAME Recording Studio Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,342 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 28, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.