Rick Hall Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Death, Career, Legacy, FAME Studios

Roe Erister Hall also known as Rick Hall stands as a pioneering American record producer, songwriter, and studio owner, hailed as the “Father of Muscle Shoals Music” for founding FAME Studios and shaping the iconic Southern soul sound that influenced generations of artists across genres.

Profile

• Full Name: Roe Erister Hall
• Stage Name: Rick Hall
• Born: January 31, 1932
• Died: January 2, 2018
• Age: 85 years old
• Birthplace: Forest Grove, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Record Producer, Songwriter, Musician, Studio Owner
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Herman Hall and Dollie Dimple Daily Hall
• Siblings: One sister
• Spouse: Linda Cross Hall
• Children: Three sons
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1 million to 5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Rick Hall, a pioneering American record producer and studio owner, was born on January 31, 1932, in Forest Grove, Tishomingo County, Mississippi.

Raised by his father, Herman Hall, a sawmill worker and sharecropper, and mother, Dollie Dimple Daily Hall, he faced hardship early when his mother departed at age four, leaving him and his sister in rural poverty under his father’s and grandparents’ care in Franklin County, Alabama.

Career

Rick Hall, a pioneering American record producer and studio owner, launched his path in the late 1950s after factory stints in Florence, Alabama, writing early successes like “Achin’, Breakin’ Heart” for George Jones and “Sweet and Innocent” for Roy Orbison.

In 1959, he co-founded Florence Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME) with Billy Sherrill, opening a modest studio above a drugstore; he took full control in 1960, relocating to Muscle Shoals.

His breakthrough arrived with Arthur Alexander’s 1961 hit “You Better Move On,” funding a premier studio on Avalon Avenue and marking Muscle Shoals’ first gold record.

Defying segregation, he championed Black artists, yielding soul staples like Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” Aretha Franklin’s “I Never Loved a Man,” and Etta James’ “Tell Mama.”

The 1960s saw house band shifts, including the Swampers’ departure to form their own studio.

By 1969, FAME inked a Capitol deal, pivoting to pop with Osmond brothers’ “One Bad Apple” and Paul Anka tracks, then country hits for Mac Davis, Jerry Reed, and Shenandoah in the 1970s-1980s.

His publishing arm fueled smashes like “I Swear” and Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It.”

Later, he mentored Jason Isbell and Gregg Allman, keeping FAME vital until his passing.

A 2013 documentary spotlighted his legacy, and his 2015 memoir detailed his rise.

Social Media

Rick Hall does not have social media accounts.

Personal Life

Rick Hall, a pioneering American record producer and studio owner, wed Faye in 1955; her tragic car crash death 18 months later, followed by his father’s fatal accident, plunged him into grief and heavy drinking.

He found stability marrying Linda Cross of Leighton, Alabama, in 1961, sharing three sons—Rick Jr., Mark, and Rodney—and five grandchildren who knew him as Pepaw.

Discography

Key Productions:

• “You Better Move On” (Arthur Alexander, 1961)
• “Steal Away” (Jimmy Hughes, 1964)
• “When a Man Loves a Woman” (Percy Sledge, 1966)
• “Mustang Sally” (Wilson Pickett, 1966)
• “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)” (Aretha Franklin, 1967)
• “Tell Mama” (Etta James, 1968)
• “One Bad Apple” (The Osmonds, 1970)
• “Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me” (Mac Davis, 1972)
• “(You’re) Having My Baby” (Paul Anka & Odia Coates, 1974)
• “The Church on Cumberland Road” (Shenandoah, 1989)

Net Worth

Rick Hall, a pioneering American record producer and studio owner, amassed an estimated net worth of $1 million to 5 million USD at his passing.

This reflected earnings from FAME Studios operations, publishing royalties on enduring hits, and production credits spanning soul, pop, and country eras.