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Alabama's Music Achievers
C
MUSIC ACHIEVERS
********************
OTTAKER CADEK - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Joined the faculty at Alabama as head of violin instruction and chamber music and as conductor of the University Symphony Orchestra.
- He was a concert violinist of wide experience having held the position of first violinist with the New York String Quarter for 14 years.
- He was director of the string department of the Birmingham Conservatory of Music and concertmaster and associate conductor of the Birmingham Civic Symphony from 1933-1942.
BOB CAIN - Hartselle, Alabama
- As a student at the University of Alabama, Bob was leader of the Alabama Cavaliers.
- As the owner of the Cain Break Supper Club in Birmingham, Bob and his band, The Cane Breakers, were regular artists at the club in addition to their work in Las Vegas and the South.
- Bill Gaither asked Bob to be part of the popular "Homecoming" video series.
THOMAS CAIN- Athens, Alabama
- Songwriter/publisher/performer
- Written songs for Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Mighty Clouds of Joy, etc.
- BMI Senior Director of Writer/Publisher Relations
JACK CARDWELL - Mobile, Alabama
- 1951-1967, hosted "The Friendly Variety Show" on (WALA-TV), Mobile
- Founder of the Mobile Country Music Association.
- Wrote "Death of Hank Williams" (#3 1953) & "Jesus Is A Soul Man" (#28 1969)
PETE CARR - Sheffield, Alabama
- Muscle Shoals session guitarist on hit recordings by Bob Seger, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Wilson Pickett, Hank Williams, Jr., The Staple Singers, Barbra Streisand, Luther Ingram and many other artists.
- Former member of Hourglass the pre-Allman Brothers Band, featuring Duane and Gregg Allman.
JERRY CARRIGAN- Florence, Alabama
- Member of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section at FAME Studios where he played on hits by Arthur Alexander, Jimmy Hughes, The Tams, and Tommy Roe.
- Nashville session player on hits for Charlie Rich, Ray Stevens, Charlie Pride, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, Al Hirt, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joan Baez, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton and toured the world with John Denver.
- Contributed to development of sound library of the Wendel Jr. Drum Replacement Unit
BRYAN CARTER - Haleyville, Alabama
- He is a singer, and plays guitar with the Jeff and Sheri Easter Band, playing Southern Gospel music
- He travels with the band for concerts throughout the United States and Canada.
CLARENCE CARTER- Montgomery, Alabama
- Rhythm and blues performer whose classics "Slip Away" and "Patches" helped establish Muscle Shoals as a center for rhythm and blues artists
- His soul hit "Strokin" became his biggest seller
- Inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2002.
NELL CARTER - Birmingham, Alabama
- Achieved her first fame on Broadway in "Jesus Christ Superstar,"
- Earned both an Obie and a Tony for her work in the 1977-78 Fats Waller musical "Ain't Misbehavin'".
RICK CARTER - Birmingham, Alabama
- One of the founding members of the Birmingham based band, Telluride.
- Founder of band, Rollin' In The Hay
- Plays wacky renditions of popular rock songs and traditional bluegrass.
DANIEL CARWILE - Athens, Alabama
- Winner of numerous awards including United States Grand Master Fiddle Champion
- Member of the group Full Moon Ensemble
JOEL CASTELBERRY - Gadsden, Alabama
- Drummer with Bill Lowry Talent Theatrical Agency where he played for many top names in music such as Dennis Yost (the Classics Four), Freddie Weller (of Paul Revere & the Raiders), Joe South, and backup for Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris.
- He also was studio musician for Star Day King recording studio in Macon, Georgia.
- He did stage appearances with people such as The Righteous Brothers, David Houston and Waylon Jennings.
KEVIN "KHAO" CATES - Montgomery, Alabama
- Producer and artist for Self Rizun Entertainment.
- The studio and record label, owned by Cates, signed a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records.
- Cates is part of Self Rizun's main group, Tha Hevvy Hittaz and also part of the group Originew Crumbsnatchaz.
CURLEY CHALKER - Enterprise, Alabama
- Recording debut was on Lefty Frizzell's "Always Late (With Your Kisses)" (1951), followed by Hank Thompson's "Wild Side of Life" (1952)
- In 1973 Chalker became the staff pedal steel guitar player with Hee Haw.
HOLLIS CHAMPION - Decatur , Alabama
- Developed comedy act with stage name, Elmer Fudpucker.
- A pioneer of party albums, he earned a gold record for "Elmer Fudpucker at the Nudist Colony," released in the mid 1960s.
- One of his party albums, "Damn D.O.T., Volume 1" was No. 1 for 44 weeks on the trucker's Top 10 chart.
BETH NIELSEN-CHAPMAN- Mobile, Alabama
- Songwriter/performer
- Writer on #1 hits "Five Minutes", "Nothing I Can Do About It Now", and "Strong Enough To Bend"
- Chapman's 1997 release "Sand and Water" was covered by Elton John as an expression of his hurt over the loss of Princess Diana.
- The 1998 Chapman song "This Kiss", recorded by Faith Hill, held the #1 position on the Country Charts for many weeks. The song received a 1999 Grammy Nomination for Best Country Song.
MIKE CHAPMAN - Athens, Alabama
- Muscle Shoals and Nashville session musician
- In the recording studio his bass can be heard on the works of Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Percy Sledge, Vern Gosden, Mel Tillis, Joe Diffie, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, George Jones, Sammy Kershaw, Leann Rimes and many others.
- He has performed live with Hank Williams, Jr., Delbert McClinton, Levon Helm, Garth Brooks, K.T. Oslin, Waylon Jennings and others.
JIMMY CHEATHAM- Birmingham, Alabama
- Jazz bass trombonist & bandleader
- Studied at NY Conservatory of Modern Music
- Heads Jazz Studies program at University of California
LEW CHILDRE- Opp, Alabama
- One of the greatest one man shows in the business- comedy, song & dance man
- Joined Grand Ole Opry in 1945
- Theme song - "Alabamy Bound"
CIO SINGERS - Bessemer, Alabama
- Also been known as The Sterling Jubilees of Bessemer, the a cappella style group are maintaining the great gospel quartet tradition
- The group had a long association with the Steel Workers Union.
- They sang at union meetings and conventions and broadcast a radio program that was sponsored by the CIO.
MATTIE MOSS CLARK - Selma, Alabama
- Founding member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (1968).
- 1973 she became director of music for the International Churches of God in Christ
- She has written more than 100 gospel songs, of which the best known is Salvation is Free (1963).
ARTHUR "BABE" CLARKE - Birmingham, Alabama
- Played with Johnny Hodges and others
- He has played saxophone on over 2,000 jazz recordings.
FRANK "PETE" CLARKE - Birmingham, Alabama
- With Chick Webb from 1930 until 1936, (recorded with Duke Ellington in 1936).
- Joined Louis Armstrong (spring 1937 until 1938), then with Teddy Wilson's Big Band (April 1939 until 1940).
EDGAR CLAYTON - Halleyville, Alabama
- Founding member of the Blue Seal Pals
- He had songs recorded by Marie Osmond and Sonny James.
- Charter member of the CMA
- Mr. D.J., USA Award 1954 and 1964.
- In 1997 honored with the 50 Year Gold Pin Award by the Nashville Musicians Union.
- Edgar's record show is one of the nation's longest running radio shows.
LEE CLAYTON- Russellville, Alabama
- Gave the "outlaw" music of the 1970s its name from his song "Ladies Love Outlaws"
- His songs were recorded by Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
- Influenced U2 singer Bono
EDDY CLEARWATER - Birmingham, Alabama
- Guitarist/singer best-known as an interpreter of rock & rock-flavored blues
- Began wearing an Indian headdress when he performed, thus acquiring a new nickname: "the Chief."
ZEKE CLEMENTS- Warrior, Alabama
- Joined Grand Ole Opry in 1933
- His band, Bronco Busters, 1st to wear western cowboy outfit on the Opry
- Wrote #1 "Smoke On The Water"
- Nicknamed the "Alabama Cowboy"
FRANCOIS CLEMMONS - Birmingham, Alabama
- Joined the cast of the Peabody Award-winning NET-TV show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" in 1968
- Made debuts in 1971 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and at the Lincoln Center Library.
CLAIRE CLONINGER - Mobile, Alabama
- Has won three Dove including "Song of the Year" in 1989
- She has had over a half dozen of her songs reach number one on the Gospel Charts.
DOROTHY LOVE COATES - Birmingham, Alabama
- Lead singer with The Original Gospel Harmonettes she was a pure dynamo in seemingly constant motion
- Among Coates' compositions, "That's Enough" (covered by artists ranging from Ray Charles to Johnny Cash)
J.R. COBB - Birmingham , Alabama
- Guitar player and songwriter
- Member of the Classics IV and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
DEBI COCHRAN - Ft. Payne, Alabama
- Won the 2002 Daytime Emmy Award for "Barefoot Ballet," a song featured on ABC's "General Hospital" soap opera.
- She co-wrote the 1995 hits "My Kind of Girl," a No. 1 for Collin Raye, and "This Is Me Missing You," a No. 6 for James House.
NAT KING COLE- Montgomery, Alabama
- 1st black performer to host his own national TV show
- Sold over 50 million pop records
- Recorded classics such as "Unforgettable" and "Mona Lisa"
BURL "JAYBIRD" COLEMAN- Gainsville, Alabama
- Blues harmonica player
- Style derived from call-and-response blues rooted in the field holler.
MITTY COLLIER- Birmingham, Alabama
- Her "I'm Your Part Time Love" reached the R&B Top 20 in 1963.
- Mitty's deep contralto soars on her definitive single "I Had A Talk With My Man" (1964).
JOHN COLLINS - Montgomery, Alabama
- Guitar with Art Tatum before joining Roy Eldridge in September 1936. In 1941?2 worked for Lester Young (early 1941), Fletcher Henderson, and Benny Carter (1942).
- Joined Nat "King" Cole Trio on September 5, 1951 and remained until that leader's death.
JIMMY COLVIN - Birmingham, Alabama
- Colvin often filled in when Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Armstrong needed another sax man.
- Performed on bills that often included Charlie Parker and jazz pianist Art Tatum.
THE COMMODORES- Tuskegee, Alabama
- The original members, Thomas McClary, Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, Walter Orange, William King and Ronald LaPread, met as freshmen at Tuskegee Institute
- Signed with Motown Records in 1971 and toured opening for the Jackson Five
- Scored such hits as "Fancy Dancer," "Easy," "Three Times A Lady," "Sail On" and "Still"
- The group released a string of 22 gold records, six platinum, two double platinum and three triple platinum albums, selling close to 40 million records.
- Inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995.
PAUL COMPTON - Elkmont, Alabama
- Senior vice president of Murrah Music Corporation
- Helped Murrah Music achieve the distinction of being named "Billboard" magazine's Independent Publisher of the Year
CHUCK CONNOR - Hope Hull, Alabama
- Contemporary Christian rock drummer
- Dove Awards and Grammy nominations, and one hit after another on Christian radio working with Geoff Moore & The Distance
GENE "MIGHTY FLEA" CONNOR - Birmingham, Alabama
- Played trombone working with many jazz legends, including Bunk Johnson, Lionel Hampton, and Count Basie.
- He enjoyed a very long association with Johnny Otis.
- Had a minor R&B hit in 1968 with "Ode To Billie Joe" on the Eldo label.
JIM CONNOR - Gadsden, Alabama
- Member of the New Kingston Trio from 1965 until 1974.
- Performed with John Denver, Barbara Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, and the duo Richard and Jim.
- Composed "Grandma's Feather Bed", recorded by both John Denver and the Muppet's Kermit the Frog
JEFF COOK - Ft. Payne, Alabama
- Member of the group Alabama
- Plays an electrifying lead guitar and fiddle, too.
- Also plays keyboards, bass, banjo, and mandolin.
- Inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
LINDELL COOLEY - Red Bay, Alabama
- Music minister for the Brownsville Assembly of God Church in Pensacola, Florida since 1994
- Formed his own music company, Music Missions International
- Recorded and released over 14 CD's. The first one has sold over 300,000 copies.
MAJORIE COONEY - Huntsville, Alabama
- Using the air name Ann Ford she was host of an interview program on WSM called The Man I Married, featuring the wives of prominent men.
- She spun records for an experimental all-classical FM station operated by WSM, the first of its kind in the United States.
- She was one of the first female news anchors in broadcasting working at WSM for 20 years.
DICK COOPER - Birmingham , Alabama
- Road manager for LeBlanc & Carr Band
- Production assistant to Barry Beckett at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
- Music Historian at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
- Road manager for the Drive-By-Truckers
HARRISON COOPER - Birmingham, Alabama
- Worked with Benny Goodman as an accompanist and arranger.
- Biggest hit as a songwriter was "Have You Ever Been Told"
- Formed dance band, the Harrison Cooper Orchestra with Hugh Martin as vocalist.
WILLIAM M. COOPER - Dothan, Alabama
- In 1902 he published a revision of B.F. White's and E.J. King's The Sacred Harp (1844), as The Sacred Harp: Revised and Improved, changing the keys and the titles of many of the pieces and including a number of new gospel hymns.
- He systematically added alto parts to the three-part harmonizations of the original tunes, thereby in many cases altering the harmonic structure.
- Cooper's revision is still used for singings in western Florida, southern Alabama and Mississippi, and eastern Texas.
MILES COPELAND, JR. - Birmingham, Alabama
- One of the first white musicians to play with an all-black band, the Erskine Hawkins Band.
- Also played with Charlie Barnett and Glenn Miller
- One of the founding members of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
- His three sons are Stewart Copeland the drummer for the rock group The Police; middle son, Ian, president of a booking agency which handled tours for Joan Jett, A Flock of Seagulls, REM, The Fixx and The Police; and eldest son, Miles Copeland III, headed up IRS Records.
PAUL COTTON - Ft. Rucker, Alabama
- Member of the Illinois Speed Press, the house band at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go in Chicago.
- In 1970, replaced Jim Messina in Poco, playing with the group off and on for 30 years
TOMMY COUCH- Tuscumbia, Alabama
- Formed Malaco Records in 1967
- Produced Z.Z. Hill's "Down Home Blues", Dorothy Moore's "Misty Blue", and Mississippi Fred McDowell's "I Do Not Play No Rock and Roll"
DEWEY COUNTRYMAN - Gadsden, Alabama
- Former President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association.
- He is a member of the Order of the Silver Horn, Alabama Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, NBA, MENC-AMEA, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Phi Kappa, Phi Mu Symphonia, and a charter member of Phi Beta Mu.
- Inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1980.
JERRY COUNTRYMAN - Attalla, Alabama
- Served as President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association in 1963 and as President of the Alabama Music Educators Association from 1966 to 1968.
- In 1979 he received a commendation from the Senate of the State of Alabama for outstanding achievements in Music Education.
- Inducted into the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1983.
COURSE OF NATURE - Enterprise, Alabama
- Singer Mark Wilkerson, guitarist John Mildrum, and drummer Rickey Shelton
- Inspired by a diverse spectrum of music - from Motown to metal
- Their debut CD sold 8,500 copies in its first week, and the lead single "Caught in the Sun" debuted at No. 7 on the R&R (Radio & Records) Chart
JIMMY COWART - McWilliams, Alabama
- At Athens High School, his band received 12 Superior Ratings at the Alabama Bandmasters Association (ABA) State Contest Festival, including 10 in a row.
- He served as President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. He was a member of the American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the Music Educators National Conference.
- Inducted in to the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1976
- He made his debut as Lensky in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in Boston with the New England Opera Theater.
- After seasons at Kiel and Brunswick (1953-59), he was engaged by the Maqnnheim Opera, which became his base.
- From 1956 he sang the Steersman, Lohengrin, Parsifal, Walther, and Siegfried at Bayreuth. As Siegfried.
- Cox has made occasional appearances in the USA, notably as Bacchus (Ariadne auf Naxos) at the Chicago Lyric Opera and as Walther in his debut at the Metropolitan Opera (April 2, 1976).
- His repertory also include Don Carlos, Othello, Saint-Saens' Samson, Steva (Janacek, Jenufa), Apollo (Strauss, Daphne), Sergey (Shostakovich, Katerina Izmaylova), and the Cardinal (Hindemith, Mathis der Maler).
- Cox is among the most convincing heroic tenors of the post-war period.
MARY A. COX - Montgomery, Alabama
- She studied at the Ecoles d'Art Americaines in Fontainebleu and the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris.
- Society debut year in 1954/55.
- After several acclaimed concert tours, she devoted her professional talents to teaching piano at Julliard School of Music in New York.
CRESENT CITY JAZZERS - Mobile, Alabama
- Later went by the name of the Arcadian Serenaders after moving to St. Louis in 1925.
- Trumpet player Sterling Bose went on to have a very successful career in Jazz
ROY CRAWFORD - Cullman, Alabama
- Alabama State Fiddle Champion - 1973.
- Twice named "Fiddle King" - Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention 1974 - 1975
- Sr. Fiddle Champion numerous times.
- Georgia State Fiddle Champion numerous times.
- Mississippi Senior Fiddle champion - 1997 - 1998
- Crowned "Fiddle King" at Georgia Mountain Fiddlers Contest numerous times.
- 1st place in the Classic Old Time Fiddler competition.
BRAD CRISLER - Town Creek, Alabama
- His songs have been recorded by McBride and the Ride, Aaron Tippin, Pearl River and Ty Herndon.
- "Whatever Comes First", recorded by Sons of the Desert, soared into the Top Ten in the Country Charts during 1997.
MONTE CROWDER - Huntsville, Alabama
- Played fiddle with such greats as Roy Acuff, Ernie Ashworth, The Delmore Brothers, Curly Putman, Vassar Clemens, Jim Ed Brown, Hank Williams Sr., Merle Kilgore and Fiddling Arthur Smith.
- Appeared in two motion pictures: Forbidden Pastures (1960) and The Ravengers (1977).
- Proprietor of the Tennessee Valley Barndance, or "Snuffdipper's Ball" as it was usually called from 1941 to 1972.
GREG CROWE - Big Sandy, Alabama
- He has performed with greats such as "The Southmen" and as a lead singer for the "Blackwood Quartet."
- He's been heard on over 60 radio jingles and has provided backup vocals on numerous recording sessions.
- Host for 30-minute Weekly Television Show: "Backstage with Greg Crowe" featuring Christian artists from across the country distributed to local Cable Stations throughout the U.S.
RANDY CUTLIP - Sheffield, Alabama
- Founding member of the World Wide Bread Casting Co. Through this organization he spread his anti-drug ministries through the United States, talking to and performing for over one million kids in our nation's schools, churches and prisons throughout the United States.
- He recorded gospel music on the W.W.B.C. label and was president of Embassy Music Production.
- In addition to Three Dog Night, Cutlip also worked with groups ranging from the Grass Roots to Lynyrd Skynyrd.
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIO Singers | Gospel | A Cappella Group | Sterling Jubilees | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Cadek, Ottaker | Classical | Violin, Conductor | 1897 | 1956 | Chattanooga, TN | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
| Cagle, Benny | Bluegrass | Fiddle | Carmel Taylor | July 17, 1928 | Haleyville, AL | ||
| Cain, Bob | Jazz, Gospel | Vocals, Trumpet | The Cane Breakers | 1939 | Aug. 30, 2000 | Hartselle, AL | |
| Cain, Christopher | Broadway | Vocals, Piano | 1963 | Phenix City, AL | |||
| Cain, Jeffrey | Rock | Guitar | Remy Zero | Mobile, AL | |||
| Cain, Thomas | Country | Publisher | BMI | Athens, AL | |||
| Callins, Jothan | Jazz | Trumpet, Vocals | Sun Ra | Oct. 29, 1942 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Calloway, Harrison | Jazz, R&B, Pop | Trumpet | Muscle Shoals Horns | Chattanooga, TN | Muscle Shoals, AL | ||
| Calvert, John | Country | Songwriter | 1965 | Florence, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Cameron, Duncan | Rock, Country, Pop, Session M | Guitar, Vocals | Amazing Rhythm Aces, Sawyer Brown | Killen, AL | |||
| Campbell, Heather | Gospel | Administrative | Southern Gospel Music Assoc. | Jan. 31, 1971 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Cantrell, Bill | Rock, Rockabilly, R&B | Fiddle | Carl Perkins, Owner Hi Records | Hackleburg, AL | Florence, AL | ||
| Capricorn Records | Rock | Studio | |||||
| Cardwell, Jack | Country | Vocals, Songwriter | Mobile TV Station | Chapman, AL | |||
| Carmichael, James Anthony | Rock, R&B, Pop | Producer | Michael Jackson | Oct. 12, 1920 | Oct. 6, 1982 | Harrodsburg, KY | Decatur, AL |
| Carpenter, Frank | Jazz | Saxophone | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Carr, Pete | Rock, R&B, Pop, Session | Guitar | MSS Studio | April 22, 1950 | Daytona Beach, FL | Muscle Shoals, AL | |
| Carrigan, Jerry | Country, Pop, Session Musician | Drums | Elvis Presley | Sept. 13, 1943 | Florence, AL | ||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Carson, Sherman | Jazz | Drummer | aka Foxxy Fatts | 1949 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Cartee, Al | Country | Publisher | Muscle Shoals, AL | ||||
| Carter, Albert | R&B | Guitar | Carter Brothers | Garland, AL | |||
| Carter, Brian | Gospel | Guitar, Piano, Drums | Jeff & Sheri Easter Band | Haleyville, AL | |||
| Carter, Clarence | Rock, Soul, R&B, Blues | Guitar, Vocals | Jan. 14, 1936 | Montgomery, AL | |||
| Carter, Edna | Rock, Country | Background Vocals | Muscle Shoals Studios | Florence, AL | |||
| Carter, Jerry | R&B | Vocals, Piano | Carter Brothers | Garland, AL | |||
| Carter, Jimmy "Peanuts" | Gospel | Vocals | Blind Boys of Alabama | Feb. 11, 1932 | Jefferson City, AL | ||
| Carter, Mary | Gospel, Country, Rock | Vocals | Florence, AL | ||||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Carter, Nell | Broadway, R&B, Gospel | Vocals | Sept. 13, 1948 | Jan. 23, 2003 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Carter, Rick | Rock | Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards | Telluride Band | Selma, AL | |||
| Carter, Roman | R&B | Vocals, Guitar | Carter Brothers | Garland, AL | |||
| Carwile, Daniel | Folk, Bluegrass | Fiddle | Full Moon Ensemble | 1973 | Athens, AL | ||
| Casher, Leon | Classical | Vocals | Casher Philharmonic Choir | Mobile, AL | |||
| Castleberry, Joel | Country, Rock | Drummer | Stone Pony w/ Linda Ronstadt | May 31, 1953 | Sept. 28, 2000 | Gadsden, AL | Rainsville, AL |
| Caswell, Melvin | Jazz | Drummer | TN. State Collegians | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Cates, Kevin "Khao" | Rap, R&B | Producer | Self Rizun Records | CA | Montgomery, AL | ||
| Caylor, Waylon | Country | Songwriter | Walt Aldridge | ||||
| Chalker, Harold Lee "Curly" | Country | Steel Guitar | Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell | 1933 | April 30, 1998 | Enterprise, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Chambless, Frank | New Age | Flute | Sapien/Gathering | Montgomery, AL | |||
| Chamness, Chris | Rock, Blues, Country | Guitar, Mandolin | Coupe Deville | Feb. 27, 1978 | Jasper, AL | ||
| Champion, Hollice | Country | Comedian | aka Elmer Fudpucker | Decatur, AL | |||
| Champion, Jesse | Jazz | Vocals | Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame 1998 | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Chaney, Wayne | Rock, Country, R&B | Trumpet, Vocals | Little Richard | Muscle Shoals, AL | |||
| Chapman, Beth Nielsen | Country, Folk | Vocals, Songwriter | 1956 | Montgomery, AL | Mobile, AL | ||
| Chapman, Mike | Country, Session Musician | Bass Guitar | Garth Brooks | July 22, 1952 | Athens, AL | ||
| Chappel, Jimmy | Jazz | Trumpet, Band Leader | Pops Williams, Chuck Clark | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Charlie Brown's String Band | Bluegrass | Band | 1925 | Tuscaloosa, AL | |||
| Cheatham, Jimmy | Jazz, Blues | Trombone | Jeannie Cheatham | June 18, 1924 | January 12, 2007 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Chellman, Georgia Twitty | Country | Radio | 1935 | Florence, AL | |||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Chia, Enrique | Classical | Piano | Cachao | Selma, AL | |||
| Childre, Lew | Country, Traditional, Comedy | Guitar, Vocals | Grand Ole Opry | Nov. 1, 1901 | Dec.3, 1961 | Opp, AL | |
| Clanton, John | Classical, Jazz | Piano, Conductor | U.S. Army Band | Athens, AL | |||
| Clark, Chuck | Jazz | Saxophone, Reeds | Cootie Williams | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Clark, Mary Alice | Jazz | Piano, Vocals Accordion, | Fess Whatley | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Clark, Mattie Moss | Gospel | Vocals, Composer | Donald Vails | 1928 | Selma, AL | ||
| Clark, Roger Allen | Country, Rock, Pop | Drums | Steve Miller, Hank Williams Jr. | July 26, 1950 | Chattanooga, TN | Sheffield, AL | |
| Clarke, Arthur Babe | Jazz, Big Band, Blues | Sax (Tenor), Clarinet | Benny Goodman | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Clarke, Charles | Jazz | Saxophone | Cootie Williams | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Clarke, Frank Pete | Jazz | Saxophone, Clarinet | Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson | Mar. 10, 1911 | April 1975 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Clarke, Richard Dick | Jazz | Trumpet | New York jazz scene | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Classics IV | Pop | Group | Buie, Cobb, Venable | Atlanta, GA | |||
| Claunch, Quinton | Country | Guitar | Blue Seal Pals | Florence, AL | |||
| Clayton, Edgar | Country | Guitar, Vocals | Blue Seal Pals | May 3, 1923 | March 24, 2003 | Bexar, AL | Hamilton, AL |
| Clayton, Kimber | Country | Vocals | Buddy Killen | Dec. 25, 19?? | Montgomery, AL | ||
| Clayton, Lee | Country, Outlaw, Progressive | Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter | Waylon Jennings | Oct. 29, 1942 | Russellville, AL | ||
| Clayton, Robert F. Jr. "Rob" | Drums | DB Records, Jody Grind | 1968 | April 19, 1992 | |||
| Clearwater, Eddy | Blues, Rock | Guitar | aka Guitar Eddy, the Chief | Jan. 10, 1935 | Macon, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
| Clements, Zeke | Country, Cowboy | Vocals, Guitar, Banjo | aka The Alabama Cowboy | Sept. 9, 1911 | June 4, 1994 | Empire, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Clemmons, Francois | Broadway | Vocals | Mr. Roger's Neighborhood | 1945 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Clifton, Dennis | Country, Rock, Pop | Vocals, Guitar | FCC | Jan. 28, 1953 | Jan. 2, 2008 | Decatur, AL | |
| Cline, Charlie | Bluegrass, Country | Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar | Bill Monroe | WV | Arly, AL | ||
| Cloninger, Claire | Gospel, Pop, Country | Songwriter | Tanya Tucker, B.J. Thomas | Mobile, AL | |||
| Closer Walk | Gospel | Group | Pisgah, AL | ||||
| Coasters | R&B | Group | Bobby Nunn member | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Coates, Dorothy Love | Black Gospel | Vocals, Composer | Gospel Harmonettes | Jan. 30, 1928 | April 16, 2002 | Birmingham, AL | |
| Cobb, Buell E. | Sacred Harp | Vocals | Cullman, AL | ||||
| Cobb, J.R. | Rock, Pop | Guitar, Bass, Vocals | Classics IV, Atlanta Rhythm Se | Feb. 5, 1944 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Cochran, Debi S. | Country | Songwriter | Fort Payne, AL | ||||
| Cofield, Bill | Country | Saxophone | Sheffield, AL | ||||
| Colburn, Howard | Country | Fiddle | 1921 | McCalla, AL | |||
| Cole, Eddie | Jazz | Piano, Bass, Vocals | Nat's older brother | 1910 | Montgomery, AL | ||
| Cole, Freddie | Jazz | Piano | Nat's younger brother | ||||
| Cole, Gary | Country | Country Boy Eddie | Sept. 9, 1951 | Oneonta, AL | |||
| Cole, Ike | Jazz | Piano | Nat's younger brother | 1929 | |||
| Cole, Nat "King" | Jazz, Pop, Jump Blues, Swing | Piano, Vocals | Nat King Cole Trio | Mar. 17, 1917 | Feb. 15, 1965 | Montgomery, AL | |
| Coleman, Burl C. Jaybird | Blues | Vocals, Harmonica | May 20, 1896 | June 28, 1950 | Gainesville, AL | ||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Coleman, Esau | Jazz | Piano | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Coles, Evelyn | Jazz | Vocals | |||||
| Collier, Mitty | Rock, Soul, Gospel | Vocals | Chess Records | June 21, 1941 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Collier, Scott | Rock | Drums | Brother Cane | Aug. 19, 1966 | Gadsden, AL | Piedmont, AL | |
| Collins, John Elbert | Jazz, New Age | Guitar | Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole | Sept. 20, 1912 | Montgomery, AL | ||
| Collins, Myrtice Jackson | Gospel | Vocals | JSU Gospel Choir | 1946 | Anniston, AL | ||
| Collins, Newton Jay | Pop, Country | Drums | UNA Commercial Music | July 18, 1998 | Chattanooga, TN | Florence, AL | |
| Colson, Bob | Folk, Country | Vocals, Guitar, Songwrite | Mama Cass Elliot | Eutaw, AL | |||
| Colvin, Jimmy | Jazz | Saxophone | Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker | Eutaw, AL | |||
| Comer, Lavergne E. | Jazz | Piano | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Commodores | Rock, Pop, Soul, Funk | Group | The Jackson 5 | 1967 | Tuskegee, AL | ||
| Compton, Keith | R&B, Country | Engineer | Clarence Carter, The Kendalls | Muscle Shoals, AL | |||
| Compton, Paul | Country | Bass, Publishing | Roger Murrah Music Co. | Nov. 22, 1969 | Elkmont, AL | ||
| Conan, Paul B. | Jazz | Trombone | Fess Whatley | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Connell, Bill | Rock | Drummer | Allman Joys | Sept. 18, 1948 | Tuscaloosa, AL | ||
| Conner, Chuck | Contempory Christian | Drummer | Geoff Moore, Out of the Grey | Hope Hull, AL | |||
| Conners, Gene "Mighty Flea" | Jazz, R&B, Blues | Trombone, Vocals | Johnny Otis | Dec. 28, 1930 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Connor, Jim | Rock, Folk | Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals | Kingston Trio | June 12, 1938 | Gadsden, AL | ||
| Consolers | Gospel | Group | |||||
| Controllers | Group | Fairfield, AL | |||||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Cook, Jeff | Country | Guitar | Alabama | Aug. 27, 1949 | Fort Payne, AL | ||
| Cooley, Lindell | Christian | Keyboards, Bass Guitar | Lenny LeBlanc, Rusty Goodman | Red Bay, AL | |||
| Cooley, Mike | Rock | Guitar, Vocals, Songwriter | Drive-By Truckers | Sept. 14, 1966 | Tuscumbia, AL | ||
| Cooney, Marjorie | Classical | Piano, Radio | WSM | 1905 | Feb. 17, 2001 | Huntsville, AL | |
| Cooper, Dick | Rock, R&B | Administrative | Eddie Hinton, Barry Beckett | Jan. 26. 1946 | Birmingham, AL | Sheffield, AL | |
| Cooper, Harrison | Jazz | Piano | Benny Goodman, Count Basie | 1914 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Cooper, Raymond | Country | Vocals | Mobile, AL | ||||
| Cooper, Ricky | Country, Gospel | Guitar, Vocals | Ricky Van Shelton | Roanoke, AL | |||
| Cooper, William M. | Sacred Harp | Composer | B.F. White | Dothan, AL | |||
| Cooper, W. Oliver | Gospel | Composer | GMA Gospel Music HOF | Oct. 24, 1885 | Merriweather Co., GA | Cullman, AL | |
| Copeland, Miles | Jazz | Erskine Hawkins, Glen Miller | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Costner, Jean | Christian | Vocals | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Cotton, Paul | Rock | Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter | Poco | Feb. 26, 1945 | Fort Rucker, AL | ||
| Couch, Tommy | Rock, R&B, Gospel, Blues | Producer | Malaco Records | Tuscumbia, AL | |||
| Country Music Hall of Fame | Country | Museum | Nashville, TN | ||||
| Countryman, Dewey L. | Marching Band | Conductor | Band Masters Hall of Fame 1980 | Oct. 17, 1923 | Gadsden, AL | ||
| Countryman, Jerry L. | Marching Band | Conductor | Band Masters Hall of Fame 1983 | Nov. 5, 1932 | Attalla, AL | Decatur, AL | |
| Course of Nature | Rock | Group | Formerly known as Cog | Enterprise, AL | |||
| Covington, Angela | Broadway | Vocals | Evita Musical | 1983 | Birmingham, AL | ||
| Cowart, James L. Jimmy | Marching Band | Conductor | Band Masters Hall of Fame 1976 | McWilliams, AL | Athens, AL | ||
| Cox, Bob | Rock, Pop | Drums | Five Jets | Aug. 10, 1939 | Winston Co., AL | ||
| Cox, Jean | Classical | Tenor Vocals | Jan. 14, 1922 | Gadsden, AL | |||
| Cox, Mary Anthony | Classical | Piano | Julliard School of Music | Montgomery, AL | |||
| Craig, Rona | Country, Jazz, Blues | Performer | Birminham Heritage Band | Dec. 1, 1949 | Walker Co., AL | Birmingham, AL | |
| Achiever | Style | Instrument | Worked With | Date of Birth | Date of Death | Place of Birth | Home |
| Crawford, Anthony | Country, Rock | Guitar | Neil Young, Dwight Yoakam | Birmingham, AL | |||
| Crawford, Calvin | Country | Vocals, Bass Guitar | Tammy Wynette, David Houston | 1931 | Dec. 23, 1999 | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
| Crawford, M.C | Country | Bass | Pee Wee King, George Morgan | June 17, 1926 | Nov. 20, 1994 | Bessemer, AL | Birmingham, AL |
| Crawford | Roy | Fiddle | Champion Fiddler | Feb. 12, 1934 | Clay County, Alabama | Cullman, AL | |
| Crawford, Ollie | R&B, Blues | Vocals, Guitar | Big Three Trio | Dec. 1917 | Mobile, AL | ||
| Cresent City Jazzers | Jazz | Group | see Arcadian Serenaders | Mobile, AL | |||
| Crimes, Russell Louis | R&B | Trumpet | James Brown | Aug.2, 1948 | Huntsville, AL | ||
| Crisler, Brad | Country | Songwriter | 1971 | Town Creek, AL | |||
| Crowder, Monte | Country | Fiddle | 1914 | Huntsville, AL | |||
| Crowe, Greg | Gospel | Tenor Vocals | Blackwood Quartet, Southmen | Tuscaloosa, AL | |||
| Culpepper, Alan | Country | Guitar | Ray Price, Ernest Tubb | Libertyville, AL | |||
| Cunningham, Victor | Jazz | Piano | Birmingham, AL | ||||
| Curtis, Mike | Gospel, Country | Vocals, Songwriter | Marty Rabon | Tuscumbia, AL | |||
| Cutlip, Randy | Gospel, Rock | Keyboards | Three Dog Night | 1943 | Sept. 17, 2000 | WV | Sheffield, AL |