Oldham Heads To Hall Of Fame

By Russ Corey
TimesDaily
Staff Writer


Published: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 12:02 a.m.

Spooner Oldham has spent 50 years in the music business, and in April he will be recognized for his legendary career when he's inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


Oldham, 65, confirmed Tuesday that he is an inductee when he was contacted by the TimesDaily. Hall of fame officials will make an announcement today.

Oldham, a man with roots in the beginning of the world-famous Muscle Shoals music business, will be the first studio player from the Shoals to be inducted April 4 under the hall of fame's "Sideman" category.

Oldham said he's not sure what the sideman category is, but guesses it has to do with the fact he's always been a supporting musician, playing piano and organ, in the studio and on tour. He and longtime songwriting partner Dan Penn co-wrote two multi-million-selling rock and soul songs, James and Bobby Purify's "I'm Your Puppet" and the Box Tops' "Cry Like a Baby," plus Janis Joplin's "A Woman Left Lonely," "Out of Left Field" and "It Tears me Up," by Percy Sledge, the Sweet Inspirations' "Sweet Inspiration," Joe Simon's "Let's Do It Over" and the Box Tops' "I Met her in Church." He and fellow songwriter Freddy Weller co-wrote the country standard "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers," which became a smash hit for Bob Luman in the 1970s and Steve Wariner in the 1990s.

"It's thrilling for me," Oldham said in his typical low-key style. "I didn't expect that."

Officials with the Rock and Roll Museum could not be reached for comment. But according to the museum's Web site, the sideman category was introduced in 2000 to honor musicians who have spent their careers out of the spotlight, performing as backup musicians for major artists on recording sessions and in concert. A separate committee, composed primarily of producers, selects inductees for this category.

Although the Hall of Fame is not releasing the names of sideman inductees until today, Oldham said the news filtered down to him when a friend of his daughter's in New York City called her. Oldham and his wife, Karen, their daughter, Roxanne and her husband, were vacationing in Jamaica at the time.

The news was confirmed when he received a call from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President Joel Peresman, Oldham said.

Oldham said he also received a call from the museum's curator who wants to "look over my belongings" for a display in March.

While he is proud to be inducted, Oldham said he's reluctant about halls of fame because of the perception that someone's career is nearing its end.

"It sounds like a finale," he said.

Oldham follows in the footsteps of other Shoals musicians who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including "The Father of Rock 'n' Roll" Sam Phillips, who was inducted in 1986. Donna Jean Godchaux MacKay, as a member of The Grateful Dead, was inducted in 1994, and Percy Sledge in 2005. Producer Jerry Wexler, who was involved in the early days of the Muscle Shoals sound, was inducted in 1987.

Oldham played on the hit record that launched Rick Hall's FAME Studios, Arthur Alexander's "You Better Move On," and was involved with numerous FAME sessions with artists including Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Jimmy Hughes.

Oldham and his longtime song-writing partner Penn also are known for writing the 1966 hit, "I'm Your Puppet," that was recorded by James and Bobby Purify.

Oldham is the 13th sideman to be inducted into the hall of fame.

"Spooner deserves this big time," said Jimmy Johnson, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section member, guitarist and producer. "I'm thrilled to death for Spooner. I'm thrilled to death for Muscle Shoals."

Fellow rhythm section member Roger Hawkins said the first band he ever played drums with was Spooner and the Spoons, with Oldham, Ronald English and Oldham's cousin, the late Bruce Oldham.

"This is really something good because sidemen don't get much recognition," Hawkins said. "For Spooner to get that award is an honor for the whole area. That excites me very much."

A native of Center Star, Oldham said his musical career got its start at Killen Junior High School in the late 1950s when he and English formed a band that played rock 'n' roll covers of the day.

Most recently, Oldham has toured and recorded with renegade Southern rock band Drive-by Truckers, and with Neil Young, appearing in the 2006 concert documentary, Heart of Gold.

He has also toured and recorded with Jewel, playing on the biggest hits of her career, Bushwalla, Frank Black, and singer-songwriter Kate Campbell. He was featured in the epic television project, "The History of Rock and Roll" and recently appeared in Joel Gilbert's documentary "Bob Dylan's Jesus Years."

"I've been around a long time and I'm still kicking," Oldham said.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.