For The Sound of Muscle Shoals, Mike Farris made the pilgrimage that many soul shakers and stirrers have made before him, across the O'Neal Bridge and over the Tennessee River, straight into the creative vortex of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and right up to the door of the legendary Fame Studios.

The result of that pilgrimage is The Sound of Muscle Shoals — the culmination of all of Farris's musical influences and life lessons learned, captured in a location that holds deep meaning for him, in creative collaboration with members of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and other session stalwarts of 'The Shoals' recording scene: Clayton Ivey (keys), Will McFarlane, Kelvin Holly, Wes Sheffield (guitars), Jimbo Hart (bass), and Justin Holder (drums). Collectively, they capture lightning in a bottle, channeling the spirit of their musical forebearers.

Overseen by award-winning executive producer Rodney Hall (son of legendary producer and record man Rick Hall), the new album conjures up the intrinsic magic of the Muscle Shoals sound and wraps it around Farris's heartfelt and hardscrabble vocals. In the intertwining threads of spiritual and earthly, of gospel and rock 'n' roll, of faith and fire, Farris once again brings what Rolling Stone Country describes as his "supersized voice filled with the electricity of Saturday night and the godly grace of Sunday mornings" to the album's 11 tracks.

Mike Farris is an artist's artist and a musician's musician, celebrated and revered by his fellow performers. He is a GRAMMY, Americana Association, and Dove Music award winner, with six solo albums since 2001. He is also a founding member of 90's mainstream rock group, The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies.

**--**

***BARRY WALDREP***

Known for many years as a renegade Bluegrass / Southern Rock artist who was constantly pushing boundaries, Barry Waldrep grew up absorbing the traditional sounds of the Carter Family and Flatt & Scruggs.

Waldrep lives his life behind his instruments and beside artists he truly enjoys performing with. "Good people and good music. That's what it takes to get me there," he says. You can find him performing with Jimmy Hall, Radney Foster, Mike Farris, John Berry, or his own band.