Carla Jean Whitley è una scrittrice ed editrice il cui lavoro esplora l'intersezione dinamica tra cultura e comunità. Dà vita a queste storie non solo attraverso la parola scritta, ma anche attraverso vari media, tra cui audio, video e piattaforme social, oltre a conferenze e insegnamento. Come scrittrice freelance, i suoi pezzi spesso approfondiscono argomenti affascinanti, offrendo ai lettori una prospettiva unica. La sua scrittura evidenzia costantemente le connessioni più profonde tra le persone e il loro ambiente.
In "Birmingham Beer," Carla Jean Whitley explores the city's brewing history, from its early saloons to the devastating effects of Prohibition. Despite a brief revival in the 1990s, restrictive laws hindered growth, leading to the closure of all Birmingham breweries by 2004. Whitley highlights the fight for local beer's resurgence.
The book delves into the rich musical legacy of Muscle Shoals, highlighting the iconic Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and the influential Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, known as "the Swampers." It chronicles the remarkable artists who recorded there, including Cher, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Rolling Stones, and emphasizes the studio's historic significance, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Through extensive research, music writer Carla Jean Whitley reveals how this Alabama studio shaped a distinctive sound that continues to resonate through generations.