IM Global Television President Mark Stern announced today that the studio has closed a deal with Johnny Depp and Christi Dembrowski’s Infinitum Nihil, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Produced, and Joshua D. Maurer and Alixandre Witlin’s City Entertainment to serve as the studio on the upcoming Muscle Shoals series based on Rick Hall’s autobiography “The Man From Muscle Shoals: My Journey from Shame to Fame.”
The Muscle Shoals series is inspired by the true-life roller-coaster story of legendary record producer, songwriter, publisher and musician Rick Hall, founder of the modern day “Muscle Shoals Sound,” and his extraordinary career establishing FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Muscle Shoals became the epicenter for recording some of the most iconic songs in history under the vision and inspiration of the Grammy Trustees Award-winner Hall. Some of the legendary musicians from an all-star list of artists who created beloved and popular hit music classics at FAME include Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, Clarence Carter, and Arthur Alexander.
“Muscle Shoals is an important story that transcends music,” says Virgin Produced CEO Jason Felts. “We are pleased that this incredible project has found the right partner in Mark Stern and IM Global who share our passion and commitment. This moving story about Rick Hall, the pioneering artists and the ‘Muscle Shoals’ sound that still resonates today, taps into Virgin’s music origins and possesses the makings of a great limited series.”
“Muscle Shoals is an extraordinary story in which, through adversity, some of the world’s most amazing music was created,” adds Christi Dembrowski, President of Infinitum Nihil. “It is perfectly suited for Infinitum as it combine’s Johnny’s love of music and its history and our company’s creative mission to tell these stories. We are excited to be working with such a great group in bringing Rick’s stories of Muscle Shoals to life.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to be in business with this auspicious group of producers on such an incredible project,” says Stern. “Rick Hall and his small Alabama recording studio fundamentally transformed the music industry. His personal and professional journey and the incredible talent he worked with is a compelling story that will make a great television series.”
“Muscle Shoals is the spiritual breeding ground for some of the most iconic songs recorded in American history,” says IM Global Music President David Schulhof. “The songs recorded at FAME Studios would later be embraced and recorded by artists around the world for generations to come. We’re proud to share this epic journey and expect an incredible soundtrack to accompany this story.”
IM Global Television plans to work with partner company IM Global Music to make the songs themselves a focal point of the series.
