From 'www.al.com', June 20, 2013:
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2013/06/post_44.html

Foundation purchases original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, which recorded Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and more

 HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Muscle Shoals Music Foundation today acquired the home of the original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios at 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield, according to board chairman Rodney Hall.
The iconic structure, built in 1945 and which operated as a recording studio from April 1969-79, saw during its reign hundreds of celebrated musical artists, including The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Percy Sledge, Art Garfunkel, and more. The foundation purchased the facility from Noel Webster, who has owned the property the last 10 to 15 years, Hall said.
Hall, who declined to disclose a purchase price, has already raised more than $28,000 to help upgrade the studio and add exhibit space. On its fundraising website, the foundation lists a three-prong approach it will take, which first includes upgrading the property with new technology while restoring it to look like the original studio.
The foundation will then begin a partnership with FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, as well as the second former home of the studio at 1000 Alabama Avenue in Sheffield on the river. The group's final goal will be to build a Smithsonian-quality facility to showcase the musical history of the Shoals.
When Muscle Shoals Sound Studios moved to a new facility in 1979, Hall said the property became home to Big Bear Audio Visual and later a used appliance store.
"It was in terrible shape when Noel bought it," he said. "He should be commended for keeping it alive. It would've been torn by now if it weren't for him."
Hall said he is also looking at restoring the three buildings behind the studio and the two adjacent lots that have been donated to the foundation. He said there is potential for a music venue or small amphitheater at the site.
"There's a lot of opportunity there," he said. "It's going to be a matter now of finding people to help us put it all together. Everybody seems to be excited about trying to save and renovate this building to make it something that will definitely be an asset to the Shoals."
In May, AL.com and The Huntsville Times reported that the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia, which has been closed since January because of state budget cuts, has been approached by neighboring cities about possibly relocating the tourist destination.
Huntsville, Birmingham, Decatur, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery have expressed interest in moving the space elsewhere. It is not known specifically who contacted the hall of fame. Hall said proposals will be received through September.
Earlier this week, Alabama frontman Randy Owen expressed his dissatisfaction about the plight of the troubled hall of fame in an AL.com and The Mobile Press-Register story.
"We're just trying to keep our heads above water, keep the power on, continue to lobby the state and work with state tourism to see how we can take advantage of the new Muscle Shoals movie coming out and other great musical things going on in Alabama, like Jason Isbell and the Alabama Shakes," Hall said.
 

From 'www.timesdaily.com', June 21, 2013:
http://www.timesdaily.com/news/local/article_127ef32a-da1f-11e2-a98d-10604b9f1ff4.html

Foundation purchases 3614 Jackson Highway

SHEFFIELD — An iconic recording studio that hosted the likes of Cher, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger and The Black Keys is now in the hands of a group that wants it to become part of a new Muscle Shoals music experience.
Noel Webster, the former owner of 3614 Jackson Highway, the original location of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, said Thursday that the studio has been sold to the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation.
Webster said the sale closed Thursday.
“We’re happy to have the property,” said Rodney Hall, chairman of the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation. “We think it was a fair deal.”
Hall declined to disclose the selling price.
“Rodney was very gracious,” Webster said. “We got a great deal.”
Hall said the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation wants to renovate the studio to the condition it was in during its heyday, but also upgrade it with modern technology.
It also would be a part of a new Muscle Shoals music exhibit that is in the development stages.
Webster said the foundation purchased the building and some surrounding property that includes a cluster of empty buildings behind the studio.
He purchased the building in 1999 and eventually restored the studio to as close to its original condition as possible, including much of the recording equipment.
The equipment, he said, came with him.
“I left the pictures and the memorabilia in there for them, but none of our historical equipment,” Webster said. “They have a clean slate to start from.”
Many artists recorded in the studio, with the biggest being the blues/rock band The Black Keys, who recorded their Grammy Award-winning 2010 album “Brothers” at the venerable studio.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studios was founded in 1969 by “The Swampers,” Jimmy Johnson, David Hood, Roger Hawkins and the late Barry Beckett, who had worked as session musicians at Rick Hall’s FAME Recording Studios.
Through the years, some of the biggest stars in music, including Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Boz Skaggs, The Rolling Stones, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Seger and Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded there and at the second location on Alabama Avenue.
The plan being developed by the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation involves creating a partnership with FAME Recording Studios and Cypress Moon Studios, whose Alabama Avenue location in Sheffield was the second site of Muscle Shoals Sound.
The studios would complement the construction of a facility dedicated to showcasing the history of Muscle Shoals music in a Smithsonian-quality series of comprehensive exhibits.
“Now the first leg is done,” Hall said. “We have to raise money to upgrade it to museum quality.”
He wants to utilize the buildings behind the studio, possibly for a museum or gift shop.
Webster cautioned that making too many renovations to the building could affect its status as part of the National Register of Historic Places.
Hall said he approached Webster about purchasing the building about a year ago. Fundraising efforts began in January about the time the “Muscle Shoals” documentary debuted at the Sundance Film Festival.
Hall estimates it could take $75,000-$100,000 to properly equip the studio.
“Eventually, it’s going to need a new roof,” Hall said.
Hall said Huntsville real estate agent Ann Adams Borque was instrumental in helping close the deal.
He also thanked Sheffield resident and attorney Gene Hamby for assisting in finding donors to help the foundation purchase the property.
Hall said a portion of a donation Hamby made to the city of Sheffield several years ago for the creation of a music museum was used for the purchase of the old studio.

From 'www.quadcitiesdaily.com', June 21, 3012:
http://quadcitiesdaily.com.s140587.gridserver.com/?p=100812

This is for Muscle Shoals – This is for us.

SHEFFIELD- When David Hood used the phrase,”This is for us,” today, he meant FOR ALL OF US… the people of The Shoals. He was talking about the re-acquisition of the historic ”3614 Jackson Highway”… the studio that made him and his fellow “Swampers” famous. Yesterday in Huntsville, title to the property transferred to the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation from a private owner who had held the property for over 13 years. Rodney Hall, of FAME Studios and President of the Foundation signed the paperwork.

We caught up with David and fellow Swamper, Jimmy Johnson today (Friday) outside the front door to the world-famous address. We can’t call it a studio just yet. There’s so much work to do in bringing the place back to how it looked in its glory days. But that will come.

Here’s what the guys had to say about the acquisition: