Achievers Alphabetical Listing

4HIM-- - Daphne, Alabama

• After a three year stint in the vocal group Truth, group members Andy Chrisman, Kirk Sullivan, Mark Harris and Marty Magehee debuted as 4HIM in 1990.
• They were awarded the "Best New Artist of the Year" Dove Award in 1991.
• The group has produced 22 #1 songs, obtained seven Dove Awards and one Grammy nomination.
• Nominated for "Group of the Year" for six consecutive years, they have won the title three times

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MARY FABIAN-- Birmingham, Alabama

• 1st to present a Grand Opera production in English in the South
• Debuted in Italy in "Madame Butterfly," which she sang over 100 times in that country
• 1st opera singer to appear in movies with a cameo role in Lon Chaney's "Phantom of the Opera"

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FAIRFIELD FOUR-- - Birmingham, Alabama

• Three of the group members were born in Jefferson County; baritone, James Hill is a native of Bessemer; lead singer, Willie Love is from Fairfield; the magnificent basser Isaac "Dickie" Freeman is originally from Johns, Alabama.
• Group ruled the South's black gospel quartet scene during the 1940's - 50's.
• Performed at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center.
• Awarded the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts

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FAME RECORDING STUDIO-- - Muscle Shoals, Alabama

• Originally started by Tom Stafford, Billy Sherrill and Rick Hall as "Florence Alabama Music Enterprises"
• The sound coming from FAME was a unique blend of fundamental rhythm and blues and rock and roll, enhanced by a funky backbeat.
• World famous for the "Muscle Shoals" sound it's rhythm sections created

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BILLY C. FARLOW- Decatur, Alabama

• Original member of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen on vocals and harmonica
• Writer of band's signature song, "Lost In The Ozone" also "Down to Seeds and Stems" and "Too Much Fun".

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MICHAEL FARROW-- - Montgomery, Alabama

• In the late 60's, was appointed Principal Trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony.
• In 1972, he co-founded the first 16 track studio in Indiana and helped develop a thriving jingle industry in Indianapolis.
• His recording career includes mixing the music for numerous Hollywood soundtracks including the Academy Award winning soundtracks for "Beauty and the Beast," and "Aladdin."
• Recipient of 3M Lyra Awards, Cinema Audio Society Award for Outstanding Achievement as well as numerous gold and platinum records.

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"FOXXY FATTS" aka SHERMAN CARSON --- Birmingham, Alabama

• Known for performing with a toothpick in his mouth
• Traveled the world with the popular R&B group The Dominoes.
• He was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1998.

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TERRY FELL- Dora, Alabama

• Best known as writer and original artist to record the classic "Truck Driving Man"
• Co-wrote 1961 hit "You're the Reason" with Bobby Edwards
• Fell co-authored 20 lines of a song titled "Mississippi River" with Elvis Presley. The song was never finished or recorded but was sold at auction in 1996 for $30,000.

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"RIVERBOAT" JOHN FERGUSON --- Blountsville, Alabama

• "A true American Minstrel."
• He has developed a unique style as a singer, banjo player, and master storyteller.
• He has recorded several albums, written and produced movie sound tracks, performed with symphonies, and written numerous educational programs for teachers and students.

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BERNARD FLOOD --- Montgomery, Alabama

• Studied music at Tuskegee Institute, Atlanta.
• Trumpet with Teddy Hill (1933-5). Brief spells with Chick Webb and Luis Russell, with Charlie Johnson (1936-7). Edgar Hayes (1937-8) including tour of Europe, then with Louis Armstrong from summer of 1939 until 1940. With Jimmy Reynolds in New York (Spring 1941), rejoined Louis Armstrong (1942-3).

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EDDIE FLOYD-- Montgomery, Alabama

• Member of the late-50s harmony group, the Falcons
• Wrote and recorded "Knock on Wood," which was later recorded by over 64 singers such as Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie.
• Also wrote the classic "634-5789"

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HAROLD FLOYD-- - Pritchard, Alabama

• Played bass for Gatemouth Brown for 18 years.
• Has toured most of Europe and the U.S., as well as New Zealand and Japan.
• An accomplished songwriter as well as a gifted musician.

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V. O. FOSSETT-- - Dekalb County, Alabama

• Renowned for his thoroughness in gospel song work.
• He was a teacher, an accompanist, a member of the Baxter Quartet, a writer of hundreds of songs, and editor-in-chief of song books published by the Stamps-Baxter Company.

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THE FOSTER FAMILY STRING BAND-- Florence, Alabama

• Named "String Band of the Year" for five consecutive years by the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America
• The members of the Foster Family captured the title of "Championship Band of the Upper Cumberlands".
• Will Foster was named the "Most Promising Bass Player in the United States" (under 18), and Dr. Bill Foster garnered thirty-three championship titles in old?time banjo and bluegrass banjo.

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R. C. FOSTER-- - Lowndes County, Alabama

• In 1915, established the first black spiritual quartet in Jefferson County, the Foster Singers
• The Foster Singers were content to sing for the pure enjoyment of singing and never demanded a fee when they performed at churches and other gatherings.
• The quartet continued to sing until the 1950s.

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SAM "HIGH C" FOSTER --- Birmingham, Alabama

• Nickname, "High C," was a tribute to his skill in playing his trumpet in the upper-register.
• A professional musician featured with the internationally acclaimed Ringling Brother's Band, he was able to read music fluently.
• Foster was bandmaster at Tuggle Institute. This was the first endeavor to teach music in a black school in the Birmingham area outside of the church.
• Tuggle Institute gained a reputation as one of the best schools in the State.
• John T. Whatley was one of his students.

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GREG FOWLER-- - Fort Payne, Alabama

• Road manager for the group Alabama
• Co-writer of Alabama songs: "Fallin' Again" (#1, 1988), "How Do You Fall In Love" (#2, 1998), "Sad Lookin' Moon" (#2, 1997), and "Dancin' and Shaggin' On the Boulevard" (#3, 1997).

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CHARLIE FOX --- Mobile, Alabama

• Songwriter, producer and singer who hit the charts during the 1960s and 1970s.
• He and his sister, Inez, were one of the first R&B acts to tour European clubs in the '60s
• The duo's hit "Mockingbird" hit the top 10 on Billboard music chart in June 1963.
• Garnered a Grammy nomination as songwriter in 1970 when the record went to the No. 1 spot as recorded by Carly Simon and James Taylor.
• In 1996, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

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JOE L. FRANK-- Mt. Rosel, Alabama

• Manager and promoter who popularized the Singing Cowboy through artists like Gene Autry and Pee Wee King and the Golden West Cowboys
• Combined radio with personal appearances to develop acts such as Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, Amos and Andy, and Minnie Pearl

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CAT FREEMAN --- Fyffe, Alabama

• Unique tenor voice.
• He sang with some of the nations top male quartets: Walley Fowler's Oak Ridge Quartet, The All Star Quartet, The Blackwood Brothers and the Statesmen Quartet.
• Older brother to Vestal Goodman of the Happy Goodman Family

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"FIDDLING" TOM FREEMAN --- Bug Tussle, Alabama

• A plain, old-fashioned fiddler whose personality and antics made him well?known in Cullman, Walker and surrounding counties.
• He would fiddle for political candidates and fiddle people out of trouble.

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DONNIE FRITTS--- Florence, Alabama

• Musician & songwriter in the early days of the Muscle Shoals recording industry
• Toured as Kris Kristofferson's keyboard player for over twenty years
• Wrote "We Had It All" recorded by Ray Charles, Willie Nelson and many others,
• Also wrote "You're Gonna Love Yourself In The Morning", "Breakfast In Bed", and "Choo Choo Train".
• Appeared in three of Sam Peckinpah's movies, "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid", "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia", & "Convoy" as well as other movies including "A Star Is Born" and "Songwriter".

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HOWARD FUNDERBURG-- - Birmingham, Alabama

• Led the 10 piece Howard Funderburg Orchestra during the 1930s.
• The Birmingham based orchestra was said to be second only to Fess Whatley's band in popularity.
• This band featured a number of the top young musicians, many attained prominence in the big bands of the era.

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