Guest
Speakers and Talents Available for Cameo Appearances
Carmen Reed
Carmen Reed-Bio
Aside from being folded in half at
birth and coming out upside down, there would appear to be nothing
abnormal about Carmen Reed. And there is nothing abnormal………it’s called
paranormal.
Carmen Reed’s life has recently been
portrayed in the box office blockbuster movie, “A Haunting in
Connecticut”, a film based on her intuitive abilities and, obviously, a
haunted house.
Carmen knew from almost the beginning
of her cognitive life that she was special, an “intuitive”; as she could
feel when things were about to happen. Her paternal grandmother had the
same feelings, so perhaps it was genetic. And even further back is a
Cherokee Shaman and an Indian Princess, so perhaps it is more than just a
gift. Perhaps it was pre destined that she see a spiritual side of life
that only a few can comprehend.
At an early age, Carmen found a
friend, Jaco, who became and remains her spiritual guide. No, no one else
can see or hear Jaco, but his ability to help Carmen see into other’s
spirits is well documented. Jaco was not only her spiritual guide and
friend, but her advisor, as he knew the “normal” world would not approve
of Carmen voicing all her concerns about upcoming events. In spite of
Jaco’s insistence, Carmen told her uncle of his impending death, and he
never forgave her in this life. Thus she learned to “jam” her gift;
another way of saying withhold the information.
She stifled her abilities for many
years.
The story of “A Haunting in
Connecticut” is but a sampling of the spiritual insight that Carmen
possesses, but bears telling, as it was at this time she realized she had
to allow Jaco and her gifts to manifest themselves again.
When Carmen’s son was diagnosed with
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, it became necessary to find a treatment center that
was closer to home than the over 300 miles they were forced to drive
daily. While looking for an apartment, they stumbled onto a large Colonial
style home that seemed perfect for the expanding family. They learned that
it had been a funeral home early on, but since no one had died there, she
felt it would be okay.
But immediately upon moving in, her
son began seeing ghosts. Soon, everyone was feeling the presence of
others.
The incidents led to an exorcism of
the home and a new approach for Carmen concerning her intuitive gifts and
a study of all things paranormal that is continuous and ongoing.
Jimmy Johnson
1995 Alabama Music Hall of Fame Inductee
Jimmy Johnson has been turning
out the hits since the 1960's.
His Discography is
unprecedented.
Jimmy is a superstar in the music
industry - View Discography
here.
Jimmy Johnson's first appearance as a paid guitarist
was at the age of 15 at a Saturday night dance at the National Guard
Armory in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He earned $10.00 for that night's "fun," and
he was "hooked." He couldn't believe he was paid for doing what he loved.
His first experience in a recording studio was in
his Uncle Dexter's studio across the street from his home in Sheffield,
Alabama. In the early 1960's he went to work for Rick Hall as the first
employee of Fame Studio - doing everything from engineering and typing to
"sweeping up" after the session.
By the mid-60's he had begun playing rhythm
guitar on sessions and, eventually, became a regular member of the studio
rhythm section. In 1969 he and his partners, Roger Hawkins, David Hood,
and Barry Beckett, decided to form their own rhythm section and buy a
studio - a move that created the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Muscle
Shoals Sound Studio. In the 70's and 80's Jimmy Johnson was busy producing
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Levon Helm, Billy
Vera, Billy "Crash" Craddock, Connie Francis, Lloyd Price, The Rossington
Band, Luther Ingram, B.W. Stevenson, Mickey Newbury, Paul Simon (with
Paul, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section was nominated for a Grammy for the
album "There Goes Rhymin' Simon"), Bob Seger, and many others.
His distinctive guitar fills can be heard on the
recordings of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Millie Jackson, Paul Simon,
Bob Seger, Dr. Hook, Leon Russell, The Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Z.Z.
Hill, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Lulu, R.B. Greaves, Luther Ingram, Rod Stewart,
Johnny Rivers, Paul Anka, Clarence Carter, Oak Ridge Boys, Boz Scaggs,
Dorothy Moore, Cher, Bobby Womack, Jose Feliciano, Art Garfunkle, Tony
Orlando, and Etta James, "The Right Time", just to name a few.
Throughout his career he has remained renown as a
recording engineer, having worked the controls on such classics as the
Rolling Stone's "Brown Sugar", "Wild Horses", Percy Sledge's "When A Man
Loves A Woman", Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music", and George Michael's
(Solo Version) "Careless Whisper".
As a music publisher Jimmy's copyright credits
include: "Down Home Blues", "Old Time Rock And Roll", "Torn Between Two
Lovers" and "Starting All Over Again" to name a few. MSS Publishing
continues to be successful.
The original site of the first studio was 3614
Jackson Highway in Sheffield in a former casket warehouse. It opened in
1969 with - in addition to Jimmy and Roger - two additional owners, David
Hood and Barry Beckett. The foursome became the world famous Muscle Shoals
Rhythm Section.
Today, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio is a
state-of-the-art two studio complex located on the Tennessee River in
Sheffield, Alabama. The 31,000 square foot structure is steeped in
history. From its beginning as the city's power plant in 1903 and later
serving as the Naval Reserve Center, the structure has served its many
purposes well.
Expanding from an eight track to a 24 track
studio and outgrowing the original facility, the partners agreed to
purchase the old Naval Reserve Center not only for its potential as a
studio complex but for its nostalgic musical background. Oddly enough the
Naval Reserve Center in the 50's and 60's was the site for teenage dances
and "sock hops". Young people from the Shoals area met at the center and
danced to the music of the local bands. In 1979 the new facility was
opened.
Through the doors of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
have come some of the most famous recording artists, musicians, producers,
engineers, and songwriters from all over the world. The recording sessions
at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio have given worldwide audiences hours of
musical enjoyment.
The 90's find Jimmy Johnson at Muscle Shoals
Sound Studio, still producing, playing, and engineering. He now finds time
to extend his interests and talents in support of the Alabama Music Hall
of Fame - of which he is Chairman of the Board.
Jimmy has played venues that extended the length
and breadth of the United States, multiple tours of Europe with varied
artists, and performed two seasons at the Montreus Jazz Festival in
Switzerland. His memories chronicle some of the best rock and roll years;
he has been quoted in books and publications such as Sweet Soul Music, Say
It One Time For The Broken Hearted, Stars Fell On Alabama, The True
Adventures of the Rolling Stones, and Guitar Player Magazine. He was
listed in Playboy Magazine's jazz poll in 1983. He has been interviewed by
public television and heard on King Biscuit Hour, Sound Tracks of the 60's
with Murray the K, Voice of America, British Broadcasting Company, and
radio stations in Scandinavia, Germany, Senegal, West Africa, Holland,
Japan, just to name a few. He can be seen in "The Gimme Shelter" rock
movie classic. Jimmy is listed in the Who's Who of Entertainment. The
title cut of the original "Bengi" movie has Jimmy's rhythm guitar behind
the voice of Charlie Rich. The movie soundtrack. "Across 110th Street", is
filled with his distinctive rhythm guitar.
He and his fellow "swampers" (a name for Muscle
Shoals Rhythm Section coined by Leon Russell and immortalized in the
Lynyrd Skynyrd song, "Sweet Home Alabama") were recently interviewed by
David Ritz. The topic was the "rock and roll" legend Jerry Wexler with
whom Jimmy has had a friendship and working relationship for over 30
years.
Jimmy lives overlooking the beautiful Tennessee
River - the very same river that inspired the lyrics of Julian Lennon's
song "Vallotte" on his visit to Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Jimmy finds
solace in the fact that he still loves working in the music industry,
still has his permanent residence in the Muscle Shoals area, and is still
paid for doing what he loves - being an independent
producer/engineer/musician and publisher.
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