New Class Coming to Musicians Hall

Sarah Skates

Booker T. and the MGs, The Memphis Horns, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, The Crickets and Al Kooper

Booker T. and the MGs, The Memphis Horns, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Friends, The Crickets, and Al Kooper will be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame during an Oct. 28 Awards Show at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. The evening will also celebrate Billy Sherrill with the Producer Award. Peter Frampton and George Jones announced the honorees at a press conference earlier today. Tickets, starting at $50, are on sale by contacting the Schermerhorn at 615-687-6400 or www.nashvillesymphony.org. Details at www.musicianshalloffame.com.

• • • • About the inductees • • • •
Booker T. Jones (organ, piano), Steve Cropper (guitar), Al Jackson (drums) and Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass) make up Booker T. and the MGs. They began as the studio band for Stax-Volt Records during the 60s, creating the "Memphis Sound” behind the hit recordings by Carla Thomas (“Gee Whiz”), Rufus Thomas (“Walkin’ the Dog”), Otis Redding ("Dock of the Bay"), Sam and Dave, and others. In 1962 the band expanded with their own instrumental hit "Green Onions," followed by "Hip Hug-Her," "Groovin'," "Soul Limbo," and "Time Is Tight."

The Memphis Horns Wayne Jackson (trumpet) and Andrew Love (tenor saxophone) are famous for appearing on nearly every recording for Stax (Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Sam and Dave), as well as with The Doobie Brothers and U2.

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Friends is made up of Jimmy Johnson (guitar), Roger Hawkins (drums), David Hood (bass), and Barry Beckett (keyboards) along with friends Spooner Oldham, Clayton Ivey, Randy McCormick, Will McFarlane and Pete Carr. Considered one of the finest studio rhythm sections in the world, the group worked as musicians and/or producers on "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett, "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon, "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers, "Old Time Rock and Roll" by Bob Seger, and many others.

As The Crickets, Jerry Allison (J.I.) (drums), Joe B. Mauldin (bass), and Sonny Curtis (guitar/lead vocal) influenced Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles (whose name was even Crickets-inspired). Among their classic hits: “That’ll Be The day,” Peggy Sue,” “Oh Boy,” “Not Fade Away,” “Maybe Baby,” “It’s So Easy,” “I Fought The Law“ and “More Than I Can Say.”

Al Kooper may be best known for his striking organ riff on “Like a Rolling Stone” and his ‘60s touring with Bob Dylan. Kooper was a member of the Blues Project, and formed Blood, Sweat & Tears. He has played on hundreds of records, including performances with The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, B.B. King, The Who, and Jimi Hendrix. He also produced Lynyrd Skynyrd’s first three albums.

As a record producer and arranger, Billy Sherrill is regarded as one of countrypolitin’s most defining influences, for his work with Tammy Wynette, Elvis Costello, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Cash, Barbara Mandrell, Ray Charles and many others.