Johnny Belew feeds people and his passion for promoting music in Colbert County
Johnny Belew's devotion to music and others make him an Alabama Bright Light. (Karim Shamsi-Basha/Alabama NewsCenter)
I crossed the Tennessee River driving to Tuscumbia to meet Johnny Belew. My window was rolled down, and I thought I heard some singing way off in the distance. Arriving at the Claunch Cafe in Tuscumbia, I met the one and only Belew.
During the day, he is a chef at the popular local restaurant.
All the other times, he is a Colbert County tourism ambassador.
Go figure!
Johnny Belew cooks and “really cooks” in promoting Muscle Shoals and its music from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Johnny Belew loves working as the head chef at the famous eatery in Tuscumbia. He makes some of the best dishes in the county, including the popular cornbread casserole. I ordered that dish, and it was exactly as it sounds. Cornbread with a whole lot of other yummy stuff, all mixed up with cheese on top.
“I support my music habit with a day job. I have been the chef at Claunch Cafe in Tuscumbia for over 10 years. I love the scenery and the people that come in. But my true passion is to promote the local music scene,” Belew said.
Besides helping stage and cater countless concerts and benefits in the Shoals area over the years, he serves on the board of the Shoals Earth Day. Belew is a board member of the Music Preservation Society, which oversees the W.C. Handy Music Festival every July. He is also the co-chair of the W.C. Handy Music Committee. The title of tourism ambassador to Colbert County that he earned from tourism officials in 2015 is one of his dearest accomplishments.
Belew loves seeing young folks perpetuate the music tradition in the Shoals.
“I get super excited when I see young people coming out to perform. I have the utmost respect for all the iconic musicians here, but when I see young people, I just get really, really excited. It lets me know that Muscle Shoals music is in good hands for years to come,” Belew said. “I also have loved helping with the W.C. Handy Music Festival for the past 15 years. That is probably the most famous music even in this area. It is such an honor to be involved.”
During the Handy festival, Belew puts on a show titled Rocking the Roadhouse. Musicians like Travis Wammack, Donnie Fritts and other Shoals icons have played it. He also organizes a weekly show, The Positive Vibe, at Stephano’s Pizza in Tuscumbia. Every Sunday night, musicians from the novice to the well-seasoned gather and play an open-mic style concert. To say that Belew knows everyone there would be an understatement.
“I love getting folks together and jamming. The Sunday night Positive Vibe has become such a blessing. I have met lots of people and made lots of friendships. It’s become the place to be on Sunday nights,” Belew said.
During a break that night, I asked Belew why Muscle Shoals is such a huge music destination in Alabama. His answer explains him.
“You know, that’s a good question. Jimmy Johnson, the Swamper guitarist, says that if he knew the answer to that question, he would bottle it and sell it. We don’t know. It may be something in the water. Legend is, the Tennessee River sings to you,” Belew said.
The Tennessee River sings to you. That explains everything.
Alabama Bright Lights captures the stories, through words, pictures and video, of some of our state’s brightest lights who are working to make Alabama an even better place to live, work and play. Award-winning photojournalist Karim Shamsi-Basha tells their inspiring stories. Email him comments, as well as suggestions on people to profile, at karimshamsibasha@gmail.com.
