Rick Hall, whose FAME studio in Alabama was home some of rock and R&B's greatest session players, died this morning (Tuesday). He was 85.
Along with founding and running the studio, Hall was a producer, songwriter and music publisher. He worked with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Roy Orbison, Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman and Brenda Lee, whose success helped make the small Alabama town a musical destination.
Today I happened to wear my FAME t-shirt from my friend, and FAME recording artist, Holli Mosley. I had the most eerie feeling upon reading of Rick Hall's death.
The original FAME was in the town of Florence, Alabama; it was later moved to the nearby town of Muscle Shoals. FAME stood for Florence, Alabama Music Enterprises. Hall worked extensively with country artists from the 1970s on, producing Alabama, Shenandoah, Jerry Reed, Tim McGraw and Mac Davis.