Built on friendship, bound by music

For more than 20 years, Rewind of the Shoals has been bringing the sounds of Motown, classic rock and soul to audiences across north Alabama. While the faces in the band have changed over the years, one thing has remained the same: The group’s love for music and for each other has kept them playing together for more than two decades.

The 10-piece band is known for performing songs from the 1960s and 1970s, many of them connected to the rich musical history of the Shoals. From horn driven Motown hits to classic rock favorites, Rewind of the Shoals focuses on music that gets people singing along and dancing.

Guitarist Tim Townley has been with the band since the beginning. He is one of only two original members still performing today. The other is keyboard player Paula Lindsey.

Townley said the group has gone through many lineup changes over the years, but every new member has helped keep the band’s sound strong.

For Townley, music has always been a part of life. He grew up in Winfield in a family where music was everywhere. His father and brother played, and Saturday nights often turned into family jam sessions in the carport.

“My mother’s side of the family had 11 children, and just about every one of them played an instrument,” Townley said. “Music has just always been a part of my life.”

Even after spending nearly four decades as an educator and coach, music remained his escape. Townley recently retired after 39 years in education but continues teaching part time. He said no matter how busy coaching became, he always found his way back to his guitar.

“Music’s my getaway,” he said. “I love listening to a song and trying to get it right and trying to make it sound like it’s supposed to sound.”

The band’s story started in an unexpected place. Before there was Rewind of the Shoals, several members played together in the praise band at First Baptist Church in Russellville.

One day, while waiting for Choir Director Bert Fowler to make copies of sheet music, Townley started playing “My Girl” just for fun. The rest of the musicians joined in.

“We just kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Hey, that’s kind of fun,’” Townley said.

Not long afterward, the group performed a few songs at a local band banquet. Then they were invited to play at the Watermelon Festival. When they stepped off the stage, they already had several more bookings waiting.

“It was right off the bat,” Townley said. “People just liked that kind of music.”

As the years went on, the band added a horn section and expanded its lineup. One of the biggest changes came when singer Kim Clonts joined the group after moving back to Russellville.

Townley said adding a female vocalist gave the band a new sound.

“It just took us to another level,” he said.

Today, the group includes musicians from across north Alabama. Members come from Florence, Muscle Shoals, Russellville, Decatur, Birmingham and surrounding communities. While a few make music their full-time career, most balance rehearsals and performances with other jobs.

Townley believes that is part of what makes the group special. They are not chasing fame. They simply enjoy making music together.

“We just do it as a hobby, but we love it,” he said.

That love for music is matched by the friendships within the band.

Townley said the members have supported each other through family losses, health struggles and life’s challenges over the years. He describes them as more than bandmates.

“We’re like a family,” he said. “Everybody in the band has had things they’ve had to go through, and those guys have been there for me.”

When the band walks on stage, that friendship becomes part of every performance.

For Townley, one of the greatest rewards is seeing an audience connect with the music.

“Seeing the crowd get into it, knowing they’re enjoying what you’re doing, that’s what makes it worthwhile,” he said.

The band has also made a point of standing out from other cover groups. Rather than only performing the biggest hits everyone expects, Rewind of the Shoals often digs deeper into artists’ catalogs. Townley said anyone can play Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” but the band enjoys surprising audiences with songs they have not heard live in years.

“We try to take that certain song that people know, but you don’t hear other bands do,” he said.

Their song choices are also a tribute to the musical heritage of the Shoals.

Townley has visited both FAME Recording Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, places that continue to inspire him every time he walks through the doors.

“I get chills every time I go in those places,” he said, “just thinking about all the people that have been there.”

He has met several musicians connected to the Shoals music scene over the years and treasures the stories they shared. Those experiences have only strengthened his appreciation for the area’s place in music history.

“It’s just a humbling thing,” Townley said. “I just feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”

Although Townley is one of the band’s founders, he is quick to shift the spotlight to everyone else. He repeatedly credits Lindsey’s musicianship, praises the band’s vocalists and horn players, and insists every member makes the group better.

That humility reflects the spirit of Rewind of the Shoals. Rather than focusing on any one performer, the group succeeds because each member contributes something different. Together they recreate the songs that defined an era while giving audiences a chance to relive memories tied to the music.

After more than two decades together, Rewind of the Shoals continues to stay busy throughout the summer, building a loyal following while still attracting new listeners at nearly every show.

“Most of the time when people hear us, they come back,” Townley said. “That tells me we’re doing something right.” Over the years, Rewind of the Shoals has shared stages with well known artists, but one performance still makes Townley laugh.

During a Fourth of July celebration at Sloss Lake, country singer Jon Anderson was scheduled to headline. When threatening weather forced organizers to rearrange the schedule, Anderson performed first while Rewind of the Shoals closed the night. The storms never arrived, leaving Townley with a story he still enjoys telling.

“John Anderson warmed up for us,” he said.

The band will once again be part of this year’s W. C. Handy Music Festival, continuing a tradition that stretches back nearly two decades. Townley said Rewind of the Shoals has performed during the festival for about 17 or 18 consecutive years, becoming a familiar part of the celebration for many local music fans.

The band will perform at Renaissance Shoals Conference Center on July 24. Doors open at 6 p.m. The band will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Entry is free. The band will also perform on July 25 at FloBama from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Townley said audiences can expect the full 10-piece lineup, complete with vocalists and horn section.

For Rewind of the Shoals, the performance is another opportunity to celebrate the music that helped define the Shoals while sharing it with longtime fans and first time listeners alike. Townley said there is a simple reason the band has built its sound around music born in the Shoals and beyond.

“Because it’s the best there is,” he said. “That’s music.”