The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “Muscle Shoals” at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.
Directed by Greg “Freddy” Camalier and released by Magnolia Pictures, “Muscle Shoals” is the true story of a small town with a big sound and an even bigger influence on the music industry.
Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Ala., has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time, according to information at magpictures.com/.
“Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Rick Hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations,” the website says. “He is responsible for creating the ‘Muscle Shoals sound’ and The Swampers, the house band at FAME Studios that eventually left to start its own successful studio known as Muscle Shoals Sound.”
Performers such as Gregg Allman, Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals’ magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today.
“Muscle Shoals” was a grand-prize winning film at the Boulder International Film Festival. The film runs 111 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements, language, smoking and brief partial nudity.
This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly First Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by the Nacogdoches Junior Forum, Mainstreet Nacogdoches, Bill Arscott, Jill Carrington, Karon Gillespie, John Heath, David Kulhavy and Brad Maule.
The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.
