Lesser Known Musicians of Alabama Gallery

Alabama’s contributions to music are broad and deep. Many of the leading figures of popular music have lived or worked in the state, including R&B legend Wilson Pickett, “Father of the Blues” W. C. Handy, and country icon Hank Williams Sr. But there are also many lesser known but equally important musical icons who called Alabama home at some point in their lives. A few of them are featured here.

Thrasher Brothers

Thrasher Brothers

Donna Jean Godchaux

Donna Jean Godchaux

Fred Wesley

Fred Wesley

Arthur Alexander

Arthur Alexander

Happy Goodman Family

Happy Goodman Family

Freddie Hart

Freddie Hart

George "Wild Child" Butler

George "Wild Child" Butler

Neal McCormick

Neal McCormick

Thrasher Brothers

The Thrasher Brothers of Heflin, western Cleburne County, were a gospel and country singing group who won five Grammy Awards and released the hit song "One Day at a Time" in 1975.

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Thrasher Brothers

Donna Jean Godchaux

Sheffield, Colbert County, native Donna Jean Godchaux (1947- ) worked as a session singer in the Muscle Shoals area before marrying Keith Godchaux in 1970. The couple soon joined the band the Grateful Dead and toured with them until 1979. In 1994 Donna Godchaux was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Donna Jean Godchaux

Fred Wesley

Mobile native Fred Wesley (1943- ) is a jazz trombonist who entered the music industry early when he joined the Ike and Tina Turner band as a teenager. He made his mark as a performer, arranger, and composer for James Brown during the 1960s and '70s, and has since worked with such talents as Ray Charles, Van Morrison, and Vanessa Williams.

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Fred Wesley

Alexander, Arthur

Colbert County native Arthur Alexander (1940-1993) performs at London's Marquee Club in 1966. Alexander was a pivotal figure in the early country-soul genre, crafting many songs that later influenced musicians such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Appears In

Alexander, Arthur

Alexander, Arthur

Photo courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Alexander, Arthur

Happy Goodman Family

The Happy Goodman Family was a gospel singing group founded by Dora natives Howard "Happy" Goodman (seated left) and his brothers Sam (top left) and Rusty (top right) in the 1940s. Howard's wife, Fyffe native Vestal Freeman Goodman (seated right), joined the group after their marriage in 1949. The group's popularity peaked during the 1960s and 70s, and in 1968 the Happy Goodman Family won the first ever Grammy Award for a gospel album by a gospel group. The group performed in various incarnations, at one time even including all eight of the Goodman siblings, until 1980, when some of the members moved on to solo careers.

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Happy Goodman Family

Freddie Hart

The music career of Loachapoka native Freddie Hart (1926- ) began in 1948 when he met Hank Williams Sr. in Los Angeles in 1948 after serving in World War II. Through Williams, Hart joined influential honky tonk musician Lefty Frizzell's band. His first hit was "The Wall" for Columbia Records in 1959. Hart won the Country Music Association Song of the Year in 1971 and 1972 with "Easy Lovin'."

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Freddie Hart

George “Wild Child” Butler

George "Wild Child" Butler (1936-2005) grew up in Autaugaville and began playing the harmonica at a young age. He recorded blues songs in Montgomery in the early-1960s and in 1966 relocated to Chicago, where he soon gained recognition for his musical abilities.

Appears In

Butler, George

Butler, George

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
George “Wild Child” Butler

Neal McCormick

Covington County native Neal McCormick (1909-1998) was the son of Creek sharecroppers. At a young age he often walked miles with his brother to play at local dances and parties, slowly gaining musical traction, and by the early 1930s was touring with "The Hawaiian Troubadours," named after his Hawaiian-style slide guitar. McCormick later mentored artists like Hank Williams Sr. and was a studio musician in Nashville.

Courtesy of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame
Neal McCormick
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