Source: Alabama Music Hall of Fame
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic song, “Sweet Home Alabama” and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame wants to celebrate with you.
Join in on a special celebration at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 27 from 5 to 7 p.m.
American Idol winner and AMHOF Board member Taylor Hicks will perform the song at the event. Admission is free and those who attend will get a complimentary tour of the museum.
Lynyrd Skynyrd videos will be playing in the lobby throughout the evening and there will be a photo display featuring images of the band, including shots of their recording sessions at 3614 Jackson Highway.
The iconic song, which took an hour and a half to write, is still going strong 50 years later and is covered by bands throughout the world. It was released on June 24, 1974, and was an instant and enduring hit.
One verse in the song immortalized the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (AKA Swampers): “Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers, and they’ve been known to pick a song or two.”
In September of 2007, Governor Bob Riley officially declared “Sweet Home Alabama” as a promotional tag for Alabama state tourism.
In 2014, it was added to state signage so travelers see it when they cross the Alabama state line.
Alabama Tourism Department Director Lee Sentell said: “For us, it’s more than a song. It’s an official welcome.”
At the 2014 AMHOF Induction Banquet, guitarist Ed King received an award from the governor for his role in developing the song. The song opens with King’s instantly recognizable two-bar intro, which he said came to him one night in a dream. King passed in 2018. His widow, Sharon, is attending the upcoming AMHOF celebration.
