Abstract
A Cherokee myth claimed a voice sang from beneath the Tennessee River. This tale, known as the “Singing River” legend, unleashed a powerful cultural force that has shaped the promotion and reception of the Muscle Shoals, Alabama music scene. A recording industry developed in Muscle Shoals during the mid-1950s. By 1975, the region declared itself the “Hit Recording Capital of the World.” For decades, performers recorded many hit tracks primarily at two recording studios, FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound. After the production of thousands of recordings, the Shoals music scene has itself became legendary. But now, few studios remain operational. The “Singing River” tale grew in popularity during the 1990s, but entered the vernacular after the release of a 2013 documentary. County tourism boards now foreground the legend in their marketing strategies to entice tourists to the area. What was once a Cherokee myth has become a brand. This paper examines how the Muscle Shoals region exploits music, myth, and memory to promote musical tourism. Musical tourism relies on a mixture of tangible elements like historic sites and intangible elements including music and myths. For tourists, iconic recordings serve as aural triggers for memory and emotional associations. Muscle Shoals Sound is now a museum, and the public can tour FAME. The “Singing River” myth promoted in conjunction with recording studio tours reimagines the Shoals as a holy site with very deep musical roots. Like other “music cities” around the world, Muscle Shoals is capitalizing on its historic musical past.
Presenters
Chris RealiAssistant Professor of Music (Music Industry), Music, Ramapo College of New Jersey, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Tourism and Leisure Industries
KEYWORDS
Muscle Shoals, Music Tourism, Recording Industry, Myth, Popular Music Studies
