See also Fame Musician History Pages (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

The Fame Gang -
The Third FAME Rhythm Section

After four membersof the second rhyhm section left FAME, Rick Hall built another legendary group of musicians. At this time FAME Records had come into being and "The FAME Gang" was on every one of these records. The FAME Gang even did an album on themselves, produced by one of the members, Mickey Buckins.

The Fame Gang isn't just a title for whatever musicians happened to be available on a given day. It was eight special players plus arranger-producer Mickey Buckins. They liked Rick, Rick liked them, and they all had a thing for the music they played. That's the reason it worked out so well. The Fame Gang cared … they didn't do it for the money alone.

Primarily, the Fame Gang backed-up singers like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter, Bobbie Gentry, Etta James, Candi Staton, and many more of the best.

  Members of the FAME Gang:

JUNIOR LOWE - guitar- Born and raised around Muscle Shoals, Junior also plays bass and writes songs. There is no shortage of versatility among the Gang.

HARRISON CALLOWAY - trumpet - From Nashville, where he knew Aaron, Harvey and Freeman before joining Fame. He also plays trombone in the Fame Gang album and, along with Aaron, did the horn arrangements.

JESSE BOYCE - bass - Also plays piano, drums, guitar, and writes songs. He came to Fame from Pensacola. Florida.

AARON VARNELL - tenor and alto sax - Known to the Gang as "Heinz". The other half of the horn arranging team. He and Nashville buddy Harrison Calloway used to play in their school band together.		 RONNIE EADES - baritone sax - Doubles on tenor. Pensacola was his last stop, but it all began in Birmingham.

MICKEY BUCKINS - producer/arranger - All-around talent Mickey has lived in Muscle Shoals for about as long as he can remember.

HARVEY THOMPSON - tenor sax - Another Nashville man. Also plays flute on the Fame Gang album; at other times alto sax, and a few other things, too.

CLAYTON IVEY - piano, organ - Also plays guitar, comes from Pensacola. and is known to his intimates as "Proton."

FREEMAN BROWN - drums - He, too, once called Nashville his home but spent much of his time on the road with bands. His buddies call him "Ring."


(standing, left to right) Aaron Varnell, Jesse Boyce, Harrison Calloway, Freeman Brown, Junior Lowe.

(sitting, left to right) Harvey Thompson, Clayton Ivey and Ronnie Eades.

FAME Studios • 603 E. Avalon Ave. • P. O. Box 3629 • Muscle Shoals, AL 35662 • (256) 381-0801 • (256) 381-6337 fax