The 10 greatest bands of all-time from Alabama

Some states in the U.S. are known as hotspots for grunge, Southern rock, punk, country, heavy-metal or R&B. Alabama isn’t really known for a specific genre, though — just producing musicians who write, record and perform relatable songs of all shades with soul.

There’s a long list of talented bands and groups from Alabama. However, some cast longer shadows than others.

For AL.com’s new list of greatest bands from Alabama, we focused on multiple-member acts (not solo artists or individual instrumentalists, like indie darling Waxahatchee, the pseudonym for Birmingham-area native Katie Crutchfield, or Bama-born guitarist Brent Hinds of Atlanta metal stars Mastodon) formed in Alabama (which excludes Drive-By Truckers, the rock band founded in Athens, Georgia by Shoals natives Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley), with a lasting significant impact well beyond Alabama (chart success, Grammys, influence, etc.).

In the future, we’ll celebrate Alabama bands/groups who are underrated or should’ve been bigger. But the below list is all about acts that have made big dents.

10. BROTHER CANE

Even amid the crowded heat of ‘90s rock bands, Brother Cane made their mark. Drawing from inspirations like Guns N’ Roses and Soundgarden, the Birmingham group hit rock-chart paydirt with hit singles like “And Fools Shine On,” “Got No Shame” (featuring Topper Price on harmonica), “Hard Act to Follow,” “I Lie in the Bed I Make” and “Machete.” Led by singer/guitarist Damon Johnson, Brother Cane toured with legends like Aerosmith, Slash, Robert Plant, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Mötley Crüe.

The band’s success made producer Marti Frederiksen an in-demand collaborator, and Johnson, who’d go on to join classic bands like Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy and Alice Cooper, a go-to guitar slinger.

In 2023, Brother Cane reformed with a lineup anchored by Johnson and original bassist Glenn Maxey, for touring and their first new songs in 25 years.

9. TAKE 6

Founded on the fertile grounds of Huntsville’s Oakwood University, gospel vocal group Take 6 have been nominated for 19 Grammys and taken home eight. The sextet’s self-titled debut album went platinum and ‘94 LP “Join the Band” went gold.

Along the way, Take 6 performed at the White House (for then-President George W. Bush) and collaborated multiple times with R&B legend Stevie Wonder (including 2012 Take 6 track “One”). In 2024, the group continues to tour the world.

In our 2013 interview, founding member Claude McKnight said, “I think our first record came out at a time it was really supposed to come out. Case in point: We were nominated for Best New Artist that year and Tracy Chapman won. It was kind of a re-introduction to the more acoustic thing and whatnot because the ‘80s had been such a synthesized decade. Then all of a sudden, near the end of the ‘80s, you started getting a lot more vocal stuff going on.”

8. THE LOUVIN BROTHERS

Casual music fans today might not know the Louvin Brothers’ name. But Henager-born siblings Ira and Charlie Louvin scored a slew of country hits in the ‘50s and ‘60s, including “Cash on the Barrelhead,” “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby” and “The Knoxville Girl.” Stars like The Byrds and Birmingham-born Emmylou Harris recorded their songs.

The fire-and-brimstone cover art for Louvin Brothers’ 1959 “Satan Is Real” album is legendary among vinyl collectors. Later battling brothers bands like The Kinks and Oasis have nothing on the sibling strife between Ira, who died at age 41 in a head-on traffic collision in 1985 with his fourth wife on his way home from a gig, and Charlie, who passed at age 83 from cancer in 2011.

The Louvin Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2015 Rolling Stone ranked them number four in their “Greatest Duos of All Time” list.

Rolling Stone summed up the brothers this way: “Raised in the Baptist Sacred Harp tradition, hardscrabble harmonizers Ira and Charlie Louvin were the most gripping and influential of country music’s many memorable brotherly pairings. During a career that took them from pool halls to the Grand Ole Opry, these Alabama sharecropper’s sons epitomized country’s Saturday-night, Sunday-morning dialectic.”

7. THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA

Just because The Blind Boys of Alabama weren’t blessed with sight doesn’t mean they didn’t know where to go. The gospel vocal group formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega. In 1948, they released a hit Vee-Jay single “I Can See Everybody’s Mother But Mine.’

The Blind Boys of Alabama paid decades of dues before they “made it,” and performed ‘60s benefits for civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In our 2012 interview, founding member Jimmy Carter said of the King gigs, “It has an honor. We didn’t do anything heroic. We just had a sing, but it was great to be there.”

In the 21st century, appreciation for the group zoomed. They’ve won six Grammys and been nominated 19 times. Collaborated with the likes of Willie Nelson, Prince, Lou Reed and Peter Gabriel.

Their Tom Waits cover “Way Down in the Hole” was the theme song for acclaimed the debut season of HBO series “The Wire.” They performed at the White House for multiple administrations.

The Blind Boys’ latest album “Echoes Of The South,” released via Shoals-based label Single Lock Records, won a 2024 Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album.

6. WET WILLIE

Wet Willie made one of Southern rock’s most enduring songs, slippery 1974 top 10 hit “Keep On Smilin’”. After starting in Mobile, in 1970 the band relocated to Macon, Georgia, home of their label Capricorn Records.

Early on, Wet Willie toured with the Allman Brothers, a trek that helped inspire Cameron Crowe’s now classic 2000 film “Almost Famous.” The band’s 1973 release “Drippin’ Wet” is an essential Southern rock live album. Wet Willie has since been inducted into the music hall of fames of both Alabama and Georgia.

Wet Willie guitarist Rich Hirsch has also recorded with Gregg Allman and Cher and had his songs cut by artists including Tina Turner, Alabama and Bonnie Raitt. Singer, harmonica-player and saxophonist Jimmy Hall went on to work extensively with guitar hero Jeff Beck and country bad-boy Hank Williams Jr.

During our 2017 interview, Hall recalled writing signature song “Keep On Smilin,’” this way: ” I was looking at the dual sides of the coin there. I’m out on the road playing for thousands of people all over the country staying in all kinds of cities, hotels. Seeing a lot of that. But get home and get out the tiller or pick the okra.”

5. ALABAMA SHAKES

Alabama Shakes redefined what a rock band from The South could sound like. In the span of three years, the Athens-founded quartet elevated from retro to visionary. It all occurred over just two studio albums, scrappy 2012 debut “Boys & Girls” and prismatic 2015 follow-up “Sound & Color.”

The Shakes’ early single “Hold On” was the garage-soul opal that started it all. The track was irresistible, with hot vocals from generational frontwoman Brittany Howard over river-groove laid down by guitarist Heath Fogg, drummer Steve Johnson and bassist Zac Cockrell.

From humble early gigs at north Alabama bars like Tuscaloosa dive Egan’s, Decatur’s The Brick Deli & Tavern and a pivotal early show at Florence’s Pegasus Records, the Shakes ascended to stratosphere. There were musical guests on “Saturday Night Live” twice.

The band became a live sensation at major festivals like Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. Standalone single “Always Alright,” the best song Alabama Shakes ever recorded, featured in 2012 hit Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence film “Silver Linings Playbook.” Alabama Shakes racked up nine Grammy nominations, winning four.

In 2019, Howard launched a solo career, putting the band in suspended animation. In 2020, Fogg, Cockrell, Johnson and touring keyboardist Ben Tanner released new music under the name Sun on Shade.

Howard’s notched five Grammy wins on her own, for songs like stoner ballad “Stay High,” and become one of this decade’s most revered rock auteurs. Live, she’s refrained from performing songs by the band that made her famous. But whenever Howard decides to do an Alabama Shakes reunion, it will make the sky rain money.

4. (TIE) JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT/HANK WILLIAMS WITH HIS DRIFTING COWBOYS

Ah, the “and bands.” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Prince and the Revolution, and so on. This oft-utilized naming device leaves no doubt who’s boss while still exuding some of that gang vibe many fans love about bands. They’re basically a hybrid of a solo artist and a band.

Formed in the Shoals, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are a Southern Springsteen backed by Petty’s Heartbreakers. Rock hardware running socially conscious songwriter software.

Because of his songwriting talents, North Alabama native Isbell became much more famous and successful than the band he first made his name with, Athens, Georgia’s aforementioned Drive-By Truckers. But he needed The 400 Unit to ascend like he has.

Anchored by Tuscumbia native Chad Gamble on drums, The 400 Unit make the thunder for Isbell’s lyric lightning. They’ve backed Isbell onstage for about 15 years, and can roll and roar when called for, as on live versions of Grammy-winning Isbell solo song “24 Frames” or, off Grammy-winning 2017 LP “The Nashville Sound, the rocker “Hope the High Road.”

Five of Isbell’s eight proper studio albums have been credited to “Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit,” including 2023′s Grammy-winner “Weathervanes.” The exceptions are his 2007 solo debut, “Sirens of the Ditch,” 2013 breakthrough “Southeastern” and 2015′s Grammy-winning “Something More Than Free.” Members of The 400 Unit, including Gamble, played on those latter two Isbell solo albums though.

The 2023 departure of longtime bassist Jimbo Hart, a Shoals native, was a tectonic shift for The 400 Unit. But on tour the band, Isbell and new members continue to wow big venues packed with fans.

Where would American music be without the great Hank Williams? Born in Mount Olive, Williams set the templates not just for country superstar, but also songwriting god and self-destructive performer.

Williams put together his Drifting Cowboys in Montgomery during the late 1930s. As is the case with many backing bands, a few musicians drifted in and out of Drifting Cowboys lineup. And in the recording studio Williams was often backed by session musicians, even as the subsequently released songs were attributed to “Hank Williams with his Drifting Cowboys.”

But the Cowboys were with Williams for crucial live performances, including appearances on influential “Louisiana Hayride” radio/TV show that elevated Williams’ stardom.

The Drifting Cowboys that appeared with Hank Williams for his 1949 Grand Ole Opry debut, oft-considered to be the band’s definitive version, featured New Brockton, Alabama native Don Helms on steel guitar. Helms’ evocative lines can be heard on many classic Hank hits like “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Settin’ the Woods on Fire” and “You Win Again.”

3. COMMODORES

What started as a band of Tuskegee Institute students grew into 70 million albums sold worldwide and timeless hits that could groove you or sooth you. We’re talking Commodores, purveyors of hits like “Brickhouse,” “Easy,” and “Lady (You Bring Me Up).” The band’s slinky 1974 instrumental “Machine Gun” has been used in everything from acclaimed 1997 film “Boogie Nights” to 1989 Beastie Boys disco-rap classic “Hey Ladies.”

Commodores also introduced the world to future solo superstar Lionel Richie, who sang lead on tracks like “Three Times a Lady” in addition to contributing keyboards and saxophone with the band. After Richie’s departure, Commodores continued to resonate, scoring a Grammy for soulful 1985 hit “Nightshift.”

2. ALABAMA

The most successful country music group ever leaves no doubt where they’re from. Because where they’re from isn’t merely part of their name it is their name: Alabama. The sound of the band’s music – country songs played with Southern-rock swagger – evokes their home state, too. Thankfully, cousins Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook changed their band’s name to Alabama after previously going by Wildcountry.

Fort Payne founded Country Hall of Famers Alabama became superstars in the ‘80s. The group, whose classic lineup also included drummer Mark Herndon, notched more than 40 country number-one hits. Classics like “Mountain Music,” “40 Hour Week,” “Feels So Right,” “Old Flame,” “The Closer You Get” and “Song of the South.”

During the 1980s, Alabama had 10 straight albums go platinum or multiplatinum, including iconic LPs like “The Closer You Get…” and “Roll On.” Their total album sales number 73 million and counting. The band’s aforementioned pile of chart-topping singles included an astonishing run of 21 in a row. One smash followed by another then another then another.

After guitarist/fiddler Cook died in 2022, frontman Owen and bassist/harmony singer Gentry rolled on. In 2023, Alabama rebooted June Jam, their classic all-day country concert, which in its original run featured bold-font support acts like Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and The Judds. Headlined as always by Alabama, June Jam ‘23 sold-out.

In their home state, Alabama’s music can rock an entire stadium even when the band isn’t there. See the raucous reception “Dixieland Delight” gets at University of Alabama football home games when the song’s played over the P.A.

1. MUSCLE SHOALS RHYTHM SECTION

You may know them better by their Ronnie Van Zant famed nickname, The Swampers, which got one of rock’s most iconic shout-outs ever, in Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1974 anthem “Sweet Home Alabama.”

To those in-the-know though, bassist David Hood, guitarist Jimmy Johnson, drummer Roger Hawkins and keyboardist Barry Beckett are Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Legendary for their simpatico studio musicianship, on essential recordings by Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, John Prine, Etta James, Paul Simon, etc.

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section made a career out of helping others become stars. Remain stars. Become legends.

In doing so, Hood, Johnson, Hawkins and Beckett became legends themselves. First working with Rick Hall, the father of the Muscle Shoals “country funk” sound, at Hall’s FAME Studios, and then later at their own studio Muscle Shoals Sound, where icons like Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Cher, Rod Stewart, and Linda Ronstadt came to cut.

At Muscle Shoals Sound, the Rhythm Section often backed and collaborated with the studio’s clients. On hits like Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll,” Jimmy Cliff’s “Sitting in Limbo” and Staple Singers gems “I’ll Take You There” and “Respect Yourself.”

In their Muscle Shoals Sound heyday, the Swampers would often cut three or four new songs a day. “We would work unbelievable 14-hour days and stuff,” Johnson told me once. “And couldn’t wait to get back the next day.”

In their classic era, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section was all about studio work. They didn’t do significant live playing until Hood, Hawkins and Beckett’s ‘70s stint with British jam-band Traffic, during which Johnson, who’d recorded the Stones at Muscle Shoals Sound, served as Traffic’s touring soundman.

Together, Hood, Johnson, Hawkins and Beckett helped create many of the 20th century’s most unforgettable recordings. Music heard by millions and millions of people through decade after decade.

Thanks to the 2013 documentary film “Muscle Shoals” many more people know their contributions and names. After Johnson’s 2019 passing, Hood is the last Swamper standing. The music Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section made together will never die though.