FLORENCE-A marker commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ recording sessions in “rock and roll heaven” will be unveiled in Florence at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5. The marker will be placed at the site of the former Holiday Inn on South Court Street (now the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown) which is where the band stayed while recording three of their biggest hits at 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield.
The sessions were held on December 2, 3 and 4 in 1969. Swamper guitarist and studio co-
Jimmy Johnson
owner Jimmy Johnson engineered the sessions when a hired engineer failed to arrive. During their three days here, the Stones recorded “Wild Horses,” “Brown Sugar” and “You Gotta Move.” The three songs appeared on the iconic Sticky Fingers album released on April 23, 1971.
“The Stones’ visit was a major turning point,” said Johnson, who will attend the unveiling. “I am very excited about the marker and appreciate the state support for our efforts to preserve and promote Muscle Shoals Music.”
The 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter showed Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and other band members recording in the studio and later listening to a playback of “Brown Sugar” in a room at the Florence motel which was demolished in the 70s. The footage, as well as recent interviews with Jagger and Richards, were incorporated into the critically-acclaimed Muscle Shoals documentary which premiered in 2013. In the documentary, Richards refers to 3614 Jackson Highway as “rock and roll heaven.”
The marker was produced by the Alabama Tourism Department. “Because the Muscle Shoals documentary contained actual film footage of the Rolling Stones’ recording sessions here, more people are aware of that history,” said State Tourism Director Lee Sentell. “This should be a good addition to the Swampette Tours and a unique photo opportunity for fans of the Stones.”
The unveiling is open to the public. For information call 256-740-4141 or visit www.visitflorenceal.com
1 comment
Nice Jimmy. Proud!