This tour shows you Jerry Allison’s exhibit in the MHFM. You’ll see his 1958 Premier brand drum kit that he used while recording and playing with the Crickets. These drums were used on the hit single “Till I Kissed You” by The Everly Brothers.

Learn about Sonny Curtis, an original member of the Crickets. This video showcases Sonny’s Music Man amplifier that was used on the stage and in the studio with several notable artists.

A member of the Pedal Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, Hughey was known for a distinctive playing style called “crying steel”, which focused primarily on the higher range of the guitar.

Steve Wariner’s exhibit includes a 1961 Fender Jazzmaster, an acoustic Takamine guitar, artwork, cowboy boots and handwritten lyrics to his huge hit “Holes in the Floor of Heaven”. Steve inducted Chet Atkins into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2009.

The drum set owned by Jerry Carrigan. Jerry played on sessions by many of the biggest hitmakers. From Elvis Presley to Charlie Rich to Tammy Wynette to Kenny Rogers to name a few.

The drum set owned by Kenny Buttrey. Kenny played on sessions by Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Jimmy Buffet to name a few. These drums are pictured on the back of “Harvest” by Neil Young.

Ampex 2 inch tape machine.

Chet Atkins was on board from the beginning. He knew that there was a need for the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Here are a few of his personal items. When you think of guitar, it’s hard not to also think of Chet Atkins.

Brent Mason’s display includes a black Fender Stratocaster, some of his family’s records, a tape player and various other mementos of his past. Brent got his break when Chet Atkins asked him to play on “Stay Tuned”. He is one of the most recorded guitar players in Nashville.

Peter Frampton’s 1964 Epiphone Texan acoustic guitar. This guitar was used by Peter to write many songs. He was a member of The Herd and Humble Pie as well as a successful solo artist and studio player.

Shelby Singleton’s Wollensak tape recorder used by Shelby to listen to tapes that people gave him. This machine had a particularly interesting involvement in the song “Harper Valley PTA”. Also, a pair of Altec studio monitors.

Two upright basses owned by Lightnin’ Chance. Floyd “Lightnin’” Chance played on the Grand Ole Opry as well as on many recordings. His impressive credits include many Everly Brothers songs, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. Hear the story of Hank’s last session where “Your Cheatin’ Heart” was recorded.

Garth Brooks has used the same group of studio musicians since the beginning. Here are some of the instruments and studio items from the G Men themselves.

One of the most sought-after backup musicians of the 1960s, Drake played on such hits as Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden”, Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors”‘ and Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay”.

Ray Edenton played guitar on thousands of songs. Here are a couple of his guitars on display at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN.

Bobby Garrett played steel guitar with Jim Reeves and Hank Thompson among others. He is credited with adapting the Merle Travis finger style to the steel guitar.

He arrived in Nashville in 1964 to teach at Peabody College, and before long was doing session and television work with Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and scores of others.

Bob Babbitt has played bass on “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” by Stevie Wonder, “War” by Edwin Starr, “The Tears of a Clown” by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” and “Inner City Blues” by Marvin Gaye, and “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)” by The Temptations. He [...]

Before he became known as “Father of the jazz ukulele”, Lyle Ritz had a successful career as part of The Wrecking Crew playing upright bass. Here is his upright bass that was on many Beach Boys hits as well as others by The Partridge Family, The Association, The Fifth Dimension and The Righteous Brothers.

Billy Sherrill was named the BMI songwriter of the Century in 2000. Here is a Harrington Piano that was used by himself as well as many writers throught the years. Also featured, are the Klipsch Speakers that he used to listen to demos as well as final mixes of songs he was working on.

Al Jackson, Jr. was a member of Booker T and The MGs. He appeared on many recordings made at STAX studios. These drums are the ones heard on “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding. A leaky roof could not keep these drums from helping to make musical history.

On a trip to Clovis, New Mexico to record at Norman Petty’s famous studio, he met Buddy Holly. In April, he started playing lead guitar with Holly and the Crickets. He continued playing with Buddy until the fatal plane crash that took Buddy’s life. That was just a tiny part of this amazing musicians [...]

Charlie McCoy has backed Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, George Jones, Ween, and Roy Orbison to name a few. He was also the musical director for Hee Haw for 18 years.

Before he headed up the Charlie Daniels Band, Charlie was a Nashville session musician. He can be heard on records by Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash and The Marshall Tucker Band. His 1968 Fender Telecaster is featured here.

Jerry Kennedy was a session guitarist as well as a renowned producer. Among his most famous credits are playing guitar on “Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette, “Harper Valley PTA” by Jeannie C. Riley and producing Roger Miller’s biggest hits.

Buddy Harman played on over 17,000 sessions. The list of famous artists that he has played with is too long to put here. He was the first staff drummer on The Grand Ole Opry.

Motown Records played an important role in the racial integration of popular music, as it was the first record label owned by an African American to primarily feature African-American artists who achieved crossover success.

Dennis Coffey is credited with bringing special effects into the snakepit at Motown. A Vox Tonebender and wah-wah pedal are on display in the museum.

Uriel Jones was one of the Funk Brothers. He played drums on some of the biggest Motown hits. These 3 drums were used both in the studio and on live dates.

Eddie Willis played these two guitars on some of Motown’s most memorable songs. A Fender Telecaster as well as a Gibson 335.

This Yamaha 12 string “tipple guitar” was converted into a 6 string “high strung guitar” and was owned and used at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio by Pete Carr. This guitar was used on hits such as “Sailing” by Rod Stewart.

Clayton Ivey was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida. He played keyboards on records like “Funky Broadway” by Wilson Pickett and “One Bad Apple” by The Osmonds among others. Clayton also wrote and produced the Grammy-nominated song “Angel In Your Arms”.

Larry Knechtel got his start playing with Duane Eddy and The Rebels. He went on to be an in-demand session player playing on some of the biggest hits in the rock and roll era.

Barry Beckett played and produced first in Muscle Shoals as part of the Swampers and later in Nashville. His production credits include Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Dire Straits, Joe Cocker, John Prine, McGuinn-Hillman, The Staple Singers, Phoebe Snow, Etta James, Candi Staton, T. Graham Brown, Lorrie Morgan, Eddy Raven, Delbert McClinton, Frankie Miller, Jerry Jeff [...]

“Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers;
And they’ve been known to pick a song or two.
Lord they get me off so much.
They pick me up when I’m feeling blue
Now how about you?”
“Sweet Home Alabama”
Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1974

This Ovation guitar was used on “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me” by Mac Davis. Rick Hall is recognized as the “Father of Muscle Shoals Music,” maverick producer, publisher, songwriter, musician and studio owner, he founded FAME Recording Studios.

Jimmy Johnson started at FAME Studios and later was part of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Part of The Swampers, he played guitar on many sessions as well as producing many big hits. This Fender Telecaster on display was used in the studio by Jimmy.

Tom Dowd was the “go to” engineer for Atlantic Records. He was involved in the Manhattan Project and then went on to be involved in many Atlantic Records projects.

Jim Horn joined Duane Eddy and The Rebels in 1959 and went on to be one of the most recorded sax/flute players of the rock and roll era.

Leo Fender gave Joe this jazz bass in 1960. You’ve heard this bass on many hit records.

Mike Deasy played in Eddie Cochran’s backing band, The Kelly Four, he later accompanied Duane Eddy, Ritchie Valens, The Coasters, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, The Byrds, The Association, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Frank Zappa and Kenny Rogers among others.

Tommy Tedesco’s Goya acoustic guitar and hat are displayed. Tommy was part of the Wrecking Crew that played on so many hit records and television commercials and theme songs.

Most people first became aware of Glen Campbell from his TV show. But years before that, he was a busy session guitar player that appeared on many hits. Herb Alpert, The Chipmunks, The Champs, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to name a few.

Bruce Gary of The Knack once said he was disappointed to find out that 10 of his favorite drummers were Hal Blaine. The credits are amazing. The Beach Boys, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, The Carpenters, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., to [...]

Before he became known as “Father of the jazz ukulele”, Lyle Ritz had a successful career as part of The Wrecking Crew playing upright bass. Here is his upright bass that was on many Beach Boys hits as well as others by The Partridge Family, The Association, The Fifth Dimension and The Righteous Brothers.