Music & BBQ

Posted by Edith Parten, Alabama Tourism PR/Media Relations Director:


In July, 2010 Alabama Tourism's PR Department teamed up with Georgia Turner from Daytona Beach to host seven travel journalists to a Music and BBQ tour. We hosted Patick Humphries from the UK, Sharon Spence Lieb from Charleston, Pat Brennan, Canada; Suzanne Corbett, St Louis; Leslie Long, New York; Diana Lambdin Meyer, Kansas City; and Renee Gordon, Philadelphia.

The writers were treated to Alabama's Music attractions and BBQ as part of the Year of Alabama Music pre-promotion. The tourism department kicks-off the year-long campaign in January 2011.


The journalists got a snippit of what the state has to offer from its music history. The group went inside the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia and a few even recorded their own song to cd. We also toured the renowned FAME recording studios and Cypress Moon Productions in Muscle Shoals.

We visited during the W.C. Handy Music Festival where we saw W.C. Handy's birthplace and museum, he is considered the "Father of Blues." We also visited the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Florence to hear the Handy Community Choir. What a treat! It had me and the journalists on their feet dancing. For dinner we were treated to sandwiches and ice cream at the famous Trowbridge's in Florence. What could be better?

We stayed at the Marriott Shoals where guests can hear nightly music by local muscians in the Swampers Bar. They also have the Sam Phillips suite compelte with its own jukebox.

From the Shoals area we headed out to Tuscaloosa to visit the Alabama Blues Project where we met blues musicican Debbie Bond and a student of hers, Rachael Edwards. Boy can these ladies sing. The project also teaches kids about the blues. Oh, and the home that houses the project is right next to an old train station, where we are told the blues muicians used to hop off the train to play in Tuscaloosa.



We were hungry for something good and ended up at the original Dreamland BBQ in Tuscaloosa. Yes, the sign is right. "ain't nothin' like em nowhere." and the banana pudding is not to miss.

From Tuscaloosa we headed east on I-20 for Birmingham and our hotel, Ross Bridge. Driving up to Ross Bridge you would think you were in Scotland as the castle-like hotel sits atop the rolling, lush green golf course that is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. I don't paly golf, but the site of this course makes me wish that I did. And if I was not working I would definitely be at the Spa or out in the swimming pool.

We checked in and prepared to head out for the evening, but before we leave we are treated to a man dressed in a kilt playing the bagpipes as is the traditon every evening at Ross Bridge.

We visited WorkPlay in the loft district of Brimingham, where we heard Jazz Guitarist Kevin Williams. The next night we visited Moonlight on the Mountain which is a community listening room. He heard Kassie Miller play that night. We also played the drums at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.

We were treated to a personal tour of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame by the 82 year old Dr. Adams who played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Adams plays the clarinet and saxophone. If you're lucky he'll tell his stories of meeting Ella Fitzgerald and playing with Sun Ra.


We also visited the historic Alabama Theatre built in 1927 as a showcase for Paramount films.

Sharon Spence Lieb has written her article on the trip. Read it here: http://www.moultrienews.com/travel/-03TRAVELNOVEMBER

Renee Gordon's Article in the Phildaelphia Sun can be found here: http://www.philasun.com/news/860/43/Alabama-s-Music-Trail-Part-Two.html

and Leslie Long's article in Limite is here:
http://www.limitemagazine.com/2010/08/the-alabama-blues-project/#more-23616


Enjoy Alabama's Music Trail.