R.I.P. Harrison Calloway

With heavy hearts I have to report that my friend, Muscle Shoals Horns co-founder, trumpet player and arranger Harrison Calloway Jr. passed away this morning in Jackson MS after suffering a stroke a few days ago.

In the early 60s, Harrison played in Nashville with greats like Johnny Jones, Earl Gaines, Roscoe Shelton and a young Jimi Hendrix including stints in the house bands of TV shows Night Train and The !!!! Beat. He then was hired by Rick Hall and became a member of the FAME Gang before founding the Muscle Shoals Horns in 1970. In the 90s, Harrison moved to Jackson MS to work for Malaco Records. Just a few weeks ago, the Muscle Shoals Horns were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and the classic lineup of Harrison, Harvey Thompson, Ronnie Eades and Charles Rose performed together one more time. Harrison was as jovial, energized and funny as ever.

He played live and on recordings with Elton John, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Joe Cocker, Bob Seger and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few.

Harrison was a great guy, one of the funniest and most talented people I've ever met with a truly larger than life personality. You will be missed, my friend!

My thoughts and prayers are with Harrison's family, his many friends, his adopted Malaco family and especially Harvey Thompson, Charles Rose, Ronnie Eades and Wolf Stephenson.

Andreas Werner