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WELCOME
Welcome to the Official Website of the W.C. Handy Music Festival. The ten-day long Handy Festival is held annually during the last full week in July. What started as a few events held during a weekend has grown to feature approximately three hundred mostly musical events in parks, clubs, restaurants, churches, recreation centers, and other places throughout the Northwest region of Alabama known as the Shoals. There are events designed for the young, and the young at heart. The Handy Festival is designed to honor the music that is and was created by musicians in this area, and to pay respect to the legacy of the Festival’s namesake, William Christopher “W.C.” Handy. Known to the world as the “Father of the Blues”, Handy was born in a simple log cabin in Florence, AL on Nov. 16, 1873, and lived in Florence, Alabama until age nineteen. He was influenced both by sacred church music, then by the songs of workers along the docks, and was the first to capture the music of the Soul on paper. Handy composed the famous tunes “St. Louis Blues,” “Memphis Blues,” “Yellow Dog Blues,” and “Beale Street Blues”, and later formed Handy Brothers Music which is still operated today by his family in New York. Thank you for visiting the website, and please attend the Handy Music Festival. No matter who you are, you’re sure to find something to enjoy during the Festival. The Music Preservation Society, Inc. is honored to present the 29th W.C. Handy Music Festival. Click here for 2010 Schedule .2010 Schedule.
2010 FESTIVAL HEADLINER
ALL IN: MAC McANALLY AND THE MUSCLE SHOALS REEFERS
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A native of Red Bay, Mac McAnally grew up across the state line in Belmont, MS. His musical talents were obvious at an early age, and by 13 had begun performing professionally.
At 15 McAnally penned his first song, and by 19 had moved to Muscle Shoals and signed with Wishbone Publishing company. His first solo album was released a year later,
and included two singles which hit the charts. Later that year the group Alabama took his song, “Old Flame” to the top of the charts for his first No. 1.In addition to Alabama, McAnally’s songs have been chosen by Jimmy Buffett, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, and Dolly Parton among others.As a performer, McAnally toured as a solo artist for years before becoming a member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer band, and producer of Buffet’s albums. |
McAnally recently signed an artist contract with Show Dog Universal Music, the young, but immensely successful independent label launched by Toby Keith. The collaboration resulted in the release of his new album “Down by the River” and his first No. 1 single as an artist.His accomplishments are now beginning to be fully recognized. In 2007., McAnally was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The following year, the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame followed suit, while the Country Music Association named him Musician of the Year in 2008 and 2009. In March 2010 McAnally received the first “Arthur Alexander Songwriters Award” given by the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
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