The Critically Acclaimed Muscle Shoals Documentary and...

(INTRODUCTION) Thanks to the critically acclaimed â€Å"Muscle Shoals† documentary, music lovers are finding their way to the small town in northwest Alabama where some of the world’s greatest hits were recorded. This was the very town where, at Rick Hall’s FAME Studios and the rival Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Aretha Franklin found her groove, Paul Simon developed â€Å"Kodachrome† and Wilson Pickett cranked up â€Å"Mustang Sally.† In the documentary, Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood, Percy Sledge and Etta James, among others, recount tales of cutting some of their iconic hits in the Muscle Shoals area. Keith Richards stated his opinion about Muscle Shoals simply: â€Å"It’s rock ‘n roll heaven.† (SUBHEAD) Experience the Energy of the Shoals (BODY) There are numerous venues to experience the excitement and energy of music in the four towns flanking the Tennessee River that are known collectively as â€Å"the Shoals.† Make the Marriott Shoals Hotel Spa and Conference Center [http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mslmc-marriott-shoals-hotel-and-spa/] (10 Hightower Place; 256-246-3600) on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail your headquarters for a music-themed excursion. Start your visit at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (617 U.S. Hwy. 72W; 256-381-4417) in Tuscumbia to see exhibits of gold records, costumes from the Commodores and Hank Williams, life-sized statues of Fort Payne’s favorite band â€Å"Alabama,† Tuskegee’s Lionel Richie and Montgomery’s Nat â€Å"King† Cole. The museum is open