re: Endless Sleep - The Obituary Thread

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MUSCLE SHOALS — Hit record producer Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals and the man responsible for the Muscle Shoals sound, died today at the age of 85 following a battle with cancer Hall died at his home in Muscle Shoals.

The music pioneer had been living in a local nursing home, but returned home before Christmas, Alabama Music Hall of Fame board member Judy Hood confirmed.

"It's a very, very sad day for Muscle Shoals and music in general," Hood said. Hall rose from poverty in the Freedom Hills area of Franklin County to become a musician, then a studio owner, sound engineer, songwriter, record producer and shrewd businessman.

At FAME Recording Studios, Hall worked with soul and rhythm and blues artists like Arthur Alexander, Jimmy Hughes, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Clarence Carter and Otis Redding.

He later began working with mainstream pop artists like The Osmonds, Paul Anka and Tom Jones, then with country artists like Mac Davis, Jerry Reed, Barbara Mandrell, Shenandoah and Ronnie Milsap.

His life was the centerpiece of the award winning 2013 music documentary “Muscle Shoals.”

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