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Description
In this oral history interview, former producer, singer, and songwriter Terry Woodford reflects on his experiences in the Shoals music scene and the broader music industry. He reviews his childhood, where his love of music started. His first singing and recording experiences began at the age of five with his grandfather. His later childhood was marked by numerous moves due to his father’s job, but he still found time to sing and record with his grandfather, even into his twenties. Due to the moves, Terry encountered many people from diverse backgrounds at a very young age. Terry also details his experiences working in the music industry throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He began as a singer and songwriter for Fame Studios during his college years, but he started working as a producer in 1969. He worked for Muscle Shoals Sound and Motown and eventually started his own business at Wishbone Studios. As much as Terry loved working in the music industry, his experience as a teacher brought him his most meaningful experiences. He took great pleasure in the lasting impact he had on his students and the real-life experiences he was able to recreate in the classroom. Terry also shares how technological advancements from the 1960s to the present day have impacted recording music and the music business. Terry also gives his insights into how the Civil Rights Movement affected the music industry. Additionally, he shares misconceptions and contributions of the Shoals music industry in general. Terry concludes the interview by detailing how his lullaby business originated and its profound impact. This lighthearted interview is filled with personal stories and life lessons that will be interesting to anyone with a passion for history, music, or teaching.
Date Created
6-26-2025
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Shoals Music Archive, "Terry Woodford Interview" (2025). Interviews. 1.
https://roar.una.edu/sma_interviews/1
