A Shot of Rhythm and Blues

Terry Thompson, of Florence, Alabama who wrote A Shot of Rhythm and Blues (With a side order of Rock and Roll, just for good measure) was one of the early pioneers in the music business, and an example of those who went before, to help establish a new, emerging, sound in the 1960s.

During the late 1950s and early 60s, Terry played with a number of local bands both on the road and in recording studios. The Fairlanes, for example, was made up of Rick Hall, who would go on to become the producer associated with the Muscle Shoals sound, Billy Sherrill, Charles Senn, Randy Allen and Terry.

Other groups Terry was in included the Rockets, Moon Man, and the Velvatones.

The song was originally recorded by Arthur Alexander, as a 'b' side to "You Better Move On", written by Alexander himself, who like Terry, was born in Florence, but who grew up across the river in Sheffield, known as the 'Center of the Shoals area', where his father worked at the Reynolds Aluminum Plant - which was established to take advantage of the electricity produced at the nearby Wilson Dam.

Terry Thompson's story is interwined with that of the history - if not legend - of the Muscle Shoals sound. In 1959 Tom Stafford, Rick Hall and Billy Sherrill, formed a music publishing business, which they called FAME, Florence Alabama Music Enterprises.

Florence is just across the river, the Tennessee River, that is, from the town Muscle Shoals.

Terry Thompson hung out, writing and playing songs with Arthur Alexander, Donnie Fritts, Jerry Carrigan, Norbert Putnam, and Rick Hall, beginning at the old original FAME location.

Following a falling out with Stafford, Rick Hall left Florence, and set up in a new location, actually an old tobacco warehouse, which Hall refurbished, located not far from the Wilson Dam, in an industrial area north of the Muscle Shoals business area.

In 1961, Arthur Alexander recorded "You Better Move On" and "A Shot of Rhythm and Blues," produced by Rick Hall at the Wilson Dam Road location.

The songs featured musicians David Briggs on piano, Jerry Carrigan on drums, Forrest Riley and Earl "Peanut" Montgomery on guitar, Norbert Putnam on bass with its composer, Terry Thompson, also on guitar.

The record, given its double-sided appeal, became a regional hit and gave producer Rick Hall the money needed to develop FAME Studios. The Dot label reissued the record, and it reached number 24 on the pop charts in 1962.

Rick Hall established another studio in Muscle Shoals, this one on Avalon Road, more centrally located in the city's downtown area.

In 1963, the first record at the new FAME location was by Jimmy Hughes, of nearby Leighton, who had a huge hit with “Steal Away”. Terry Thompson played on the song.

Terry, along with Earl “Peanutt” Montgomery, Spooner Oldham and David Briggs, became the first session men at the Avalon Road, Muscle Shoals location, as the studio began to build a reputation, its name associated with a 'sound'.

Unfortunately, the story of Terry Thompson, has a sad ending. Terry died in 1965, just 25 years old, as he, and the FAME studios Muscle Shoal sound was emerging in earnest on the music scene and gaining international attention.

Terry Thompson was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2010, preceded by Arthur Alexander and Norbert Putnam in 2005, and by Rick Hall in 1985.

Hi Paul, thanks a lot sharing that background story about Terry Thompson ! I didn't know it.