James Joiner
July 10, 1928 - July 21, 2006
1991 Inductee

Florence native James Joiner gained much of his early musical experience as a member of the U.S. Army playing USO shows in Europe.

When he left the service, he returned to Florence to run his family’s bus company but continued music as a sideline. Joiner formed Tune Recording Studio in 1958 and provided the first recording experience for musicians such as David Briggs, Spooner Oldham, Jerry Carrigan, Donnie Fritts, and many others.

As a songwriter, Joiner penned the first hit to spring from the Muscle Shoals music industry and recorded, "A Fallen Star," with Bobby Denton of Cherokee. Joiner used the facilities at WLAY radio to record the song.

He wrote and recorded songs for his Tune Record label with the help of Charles Stanfield of Muscle Shoals who owned a tape recorder and microphone, and who would bring his equipment to the Joiner Bus Station and set it up for recording session after the station's normal operating hours.

Although most of his energies were used to manage Joiner Transit, he still wrote and penned "Alabama Has It All" for the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Joiner is the 1991 John Herbert Orr Pioneer Award recipient.