There’s something about The Shoals region of northern Alabama. Rick Hall founded FAME Studios there in 1959. Throughout the 1960s, FAME was the site of recordings from Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin that shaped soul and pop music in ways that are still deeply connecting with music fans today. Duane Allman got his start there as a sometime session musician. And speaking of session musicians, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (and Horns), later split off and formed their own rival studio across town, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which recorded hits by Leon Russell, The Staple Singers, and Paul Simon.

All to say, Jason Isbell, born February 1, 1979 in nearby Green Hill, Alabama, carries on the spirit of the deep, soulful music of The Shoals today. In fact, his work as a professional musician and songwriter began with a publishing contract at FAME, an association he continued to foster well into his successful solo recording career.

For two decades Isbell has written songs that are steeped in his Alabama roots, often sharing vulnerable facts about his own upbringing, experiences, failures, and victories. His songs are personal yet universal. What’s more, he’s an instrumentalist of the highest order of Shoals tradition. His playing is bold, sweaty, sometimes not pretty, yet always from the heart. One gets the sense that there’s not a lot left when he’s done.

At 21 Isbell joined the Drive by Truckers, began a solo career in 2007 and has formed The 400 Unit which features his wife and fellow musician, Amanda Shires, as a member. He has earned four Grammy Awards, is the official Artist-in-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and has produced an album of Josh Ritter’s music.

Jason Isbell is WUMB’s Artist of the Day on Tuesday. Hear his music featured in the 9 AM, noon, 3 PM, and 7 PM hours.