Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s rewind

Part 16: Dancing in the sand

Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s had me firmly planted in a sea of blue jean babies longing to be the seamstress for the band. I closed my eyes and exhaled in the moment when Clint Bailey lovingly launched into that warm, iconic opening bar of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” The moment took over and the troubles of the world faded into nothingness. Sir Elton, Clint and the those world-class Fiddleworms had my pretty eyes pirate smiling.

Being amongst my chosen people Labor Day weekend 2025 in Florence’s historic Shoals Theatre had me wondering, “Do all cool people born post 1973 just come into the world knowing all the words to ‘Tiny Dancer?’ ” It has to be true, right? No matter your walk in life or your music preference, “Tiny Dancer” is a story we all know and one that compels us to become storytellers. The words she knows … the tune she hums … from the womb, friends.

I still can’t get over Clint looking and feeling so very Elton. Seriously, ten-out-of-ten in every single way, Clint. Y’all, Carla Russell sang back up with the Shoals Sisters, too. Carla + Marie + Cindy? What a dream combination. I was especially taken aback by how the Shoals Strings absolutely elevated “Tiny Dancer.” Oh my goodness, friends, it was so beautiful. At one point, I watched the strings section looking to Clint and singing along. What a perfect performance — I simply don’t think it could have been any better.

This masterpiece of a song really does feel like coming home, friends. The long-running Muscle Shoals Meets philanthropic concert series is like coming home, too. When everything came full circle and Clint rewarded us with the piano outro, I closed my eyes and sighed again in satisfaction. I felt the room give a grateful collective sigh, too. Wow. I needed that … we all needed that feel-good story. Ahh. I still hope to one day marry a music man.

Stay tuned … more to come.

Dig Worms.

Photo credit: Devona Hawkins