JERRY WEXLER

	Jerry Wexler, a native of New York City, crossed musical and
geographical boundaries to play a pivotal role in developing
Muscle Shoals into one of the major recording centers of the
nation. 

	Beginning as a music journalist with Billboard magazine, Wexler
coined the term Rhythm and Blues to replace the "Race Records"
charts.

	In the early 50s. Wexler joined Atlantic Records and with Ahmet
and Nesuhi Ertegun built the label into one of the giants of the
music industry.

	His early recordings with Ray Charles, Ruth Brown and the
Drifters are legendary. 

	In the mid-60s, he brought Wilson Pickett to Fame studio in
Muscle Shoals where he produced the classic "Mustang Sally" and
"Land of 1,000 Dances". Soon after he recorded Aretha Franklin's
"I Never Loved A Man The Way That I Loved You" and "Do Right
Woman, Do Right Man", cutting both the same day.

	In 1969, Wexler committed the label to record with the
fledgling Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, enabling the
ensemble to borrow funds to begin their first studio.

	Among the artist recorded by Wexler in Muscle Shoals are Willie
Nelson, Lulu, Cher, The Staple Singers, Dire Straits,
McGuinn-Hillman, and Bob Dylan.