(Brittany Howard) Wade Payne/Invision/AP (Wilson Pickett, Hank Williams) Courtesy Everett Collection

There are huge bands and timeless songs named after Alabama. The state has produced some undeniable giants of American music and the Muscle Shoals area is a sonic Mecca just by itself. But are there legitimately enough great musicians from Alabama to have one representing each of the state's 67 counties? It took some digging and an openness to genres beyond pop, rock and country, but the answer is yes. Besides inherent musical considerations there were some parameters for our list: Each person had to have been born in that county or lived there at some point growing up, etc.; and if a person was born in one county and raised in another, that person could be a contender in either county. Below are AL.com's picks for "the greatest musician from every Alabama county." You're welcome to disagree with these picks and let us know in the comments section which musician(s) you'd have chosen instead. However, it's difficult to dispute Alabama's rich musical history. By Matt Wake

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Autauga County: Wilson Pickett

Prattville-born R&B singer scored hits with "In the Midnight Hour," "Mustang Sally,” "Land of 1,000 Dances" and other songs featuring his electric vocal performances.

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Baldwin County: Ellis Hooks

Bay Minette native has released bluesy solo albums, played Montreux Jazz Festival and lent his soulful vocals to recordings by Frank Black, Little Milton and Van Morrison tribute album “Vanthology.”

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Barbour County: Martha Reeves

Eufaula-born vocalist who led Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, a Motown girl-group with quintessential ’60s smashes including "Dancing In The Street,” "Nowhere to Run" and "Heat Wave."

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Bibb County: Victoria Hallman

Bibb County High School grad and cabaret singer was a longtime “Hee-Haw” variety TV show cast member and opening act for comedian Bob Hope and country singer Buck Owens.

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Blount County: Zeke Clements

Warrior, Ala.-born Grand Ole Opry star and performed the yodeling voice for the character Bashful in Disney’s animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

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Bullock County: Eddie Kendricks

Union Springs-born singer’s honeyed falsetto graces Temptations tunes like "Just My Imagination” and “Get Ready” and solo hit "Keep On Truckin.'"

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Butler County: Hank Williams

Mount Olive-born god of country music: his barnful of timeless hits include “Move It On Over,” “Jambalaya,” “I Saw the Light,” “Hey Good Lookin’,” “Lost Highway” and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."

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Calhoun County: Patrick "j.Que" Smith

Anniston native and Grammy nominated songwriter/producer has contributed to recordings by modern pop/R&B royalty including Beyonce, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas and Usher.

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Chambers County: K. Lee Scott

Born in Valley, Ala., a leading faith music composer, with more than 300 published works, including music for the 50th anniversary of Birmingham’s 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.

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Cherokee County: Tim Watson

Fiddle player has worked with stars ranging from country queen Tammy Wynette to rap rocker Kid Rock.

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Chilton County: Randall Atcheson

Raised in Maplesville and Clanton, virtuoso keyboardist has performed at storied venues including Carnegie Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and Blenheim Palace.

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Choctaw County: Ty Herndon

Butler native scored number-one country hits for Epic Records with 1995’s “"What Mattered Most" and 1996’s “Living in a Moment.”

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Clarke County: Jabo Starks

Jackson-born drummer played on Bobby “Blue” Bland blues hits like “Turn on Your Love Light,” and James Brown funk gems including “Sex Machine,” “The Payback” and “Super Bad,” often in tandem with Clyde Stubblefield.

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Clay County: Howard Hamil

Ashland-born fiddler appeared on “Chicken in the Barnyard” album recognized by the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress as an outstanding folk recording.

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Cleburne County: Thrasher Brothers

Heflin gospel group toured with Alabama, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn and received a Lifework Award for Performing Achievement from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

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Coffee County: Don Helms

New Brockton-born musician who contributed evocative pedal steel guitar to more than 100 Hank Williams recordings, and many other country classics, like Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight.”

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Colbert County: David Hood

So many worthy contenders from the Muscle Shoals area, but it’s difficult to think of anyone who surpasses Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bassist David Hood’s discography (Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, The Staple Singers, Traffic, Paul Simon, etc.) and consummate musicianship.

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Conecuh County: Robert Bradley

Hailing from Evergreen, singer’s roots-rock band Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise has recorded albums for the RCA and Vanguard labels and placed music in TV and films.

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Coosa County: Jack Pruett

Longtime lead guitarist for country singer Marty Robbins.

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Covington County: Lamar Morris

Andalusia-born country musician was a member of Hank Williams Jr.’s backing combo The Bama Band as well as an MGM Records solo artist.

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Crenshaw County: Bobby Tomberlin

Luverne native co-wrote Diamond Rio’s number one country-hit “One More Day" and his songs have also been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson, Faith Hill and Kenny Rogers.

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Cullman County: Candi Staton

Hanceville-born, southern-soul singer known for her Grammy-nominated versions of "Stand by Your Man" and "In the Ghetto" and, later, the disco smash "Young Hearts Run Free."

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Dale County: Big Mama Thornton

Ariton-born blues belter of “Hound Dog” and “Ball and Chain,” songs that would be later re-recorded and popularized by Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin.

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Dallas County: Mattie Moss Clark

Selma-born singer and leader of vocal group The Clark Sisters is credited with three-part harmony innovation within gospel music.

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DeKalb County: Randy Owen

Fort Payne-native and frontman for Country Music Hall of Fame group Alabama, which has sold more than 73 million albums and notched dozens of country number-one hits, including "Mountain Music," "The Closer You Get" and "Song of the South."

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Elmore Country: Monica Lisa Stevenson

Wetumpka-born singer has been nominated for gospel music’s Stellar Awards.

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Escambia County: Hank Locklin

Longtime Brewton resident and singer/songwriter notched late-50s country hits including "Please Help Me, I'm Falling.”

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Etowah County: Jerry "Boogie" McCain

Gadsden-area native and harmonica ace was a live favorite on the blues circuit and recording artist for more than 50 years.

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Fayette County: Dexter Roberts

Fayette native and country singer was a season 13 “American Idol” finalist, finishing in seventh place.

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Franklin County: Tammy Wynette

Singer with at least 20 number-one country hits, including “Stand By Your Man,” and many classic duets with then-husband George Jones, such as “Golden Ring,” called Red Bay her hometown.

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Geneva County: Charlie Monk

Geneva native and Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductee is known for being one Nashville’s top music publishers, but he’s also an accomplished songwriter whose material has been recorded by the likes of Jerry Reed, Charley Pride and Pat Boone.

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Greene County: Bobo Jenkins

Forkland-born blues singer/guitarist recorded and performed from the ’50s to the early-80s.

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Hale County: Little Sonny

Greensboro-born harmonica player with more than 50 years as a blues musician and recording artist.

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Henry County: Curley Money

Haleburg native was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2003.

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Houston County: Buddy Buie

Raised in Dothan, songwriter/producer known for his work with Roy Orbison, the Classics IV and Atlanta Rhythm Section.

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Jackson County: Curly Putman

Princeton, Ala.-native and songwriter penned the 1964 Porter Wagoner hit “Green, Green Grass of Home,” later covered by artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Joan Baez.

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Jefferson County: Emmylou Harris

Birmingham-born singer and roots-music giant with more than a dozen Grammys to her credit.

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Lamar County: Dan Penn

Vernon native and singer/songwriter co-wrote "The Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and produced iconic Box Tops single “The Letter.”

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Lauderdale County: Spooner Oldham

Center Star-born keyboardist and songwriter can be heard on Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” Percy Sledge's "When A Man Loves A Woman,” Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally” and many other classic tracks.

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Lawrence County: Mack Vickery

Town Creek-born musician and Alabama Music Hall of Famer’s songs were recorded by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and George Jones.

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Lee County: "Joe"

Grammy-nominated singer of such R&B hits as “I Wanna Know” and Mariah Carey collabo "Thank God I Found You" grew up in Opelika.

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Limestone County: Brittany Howard

Athens-born frontwoman of Grammy-winning band Alabama Shakes, who scored a number-one album with 2015 sophomore disc “Sound & Color.”

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Lowndes County: Rufus "Tee Tot" Payne

Blues musician and musical mentor to a young Hank Williams.

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Macon County: Lionel Richie

Tuskegee born pop-star with such hits as “All Night Long” and former member of The Commodores, singing lead on that funk band’s ballads "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady."

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Madison County: Carla Azar

Huntsville native is the drummer/singer of Los Angeles experimental band Autolux, better known for her touring and recording with blues-rock star Jack White.

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Marengo County: Beulah Bryant

Blues singer performed at Newport Jazz Festival and recorded for the Spivey record label.

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Marion County: Sonny James

Hackleburg-born singer and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee known for his ’50s hit "Young Love.”

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Marshall County: Pat Upton

The former Guntersville resident and Spiral Starecase singer/guitarist wrote and sang lead on 1969 hit "More Today Than Yesterday,” a song later covered by such artists as Cher and Diana Ross.

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Mobile County: Jimmy Buffett

The “Come Monday” and "Cheeseburger in Paradise" singer/songwriter, concert mega-draw and “Margaritaville” beach-lifestyle magnate grew up in Mobile.

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Monroe County: Damon Johnson

Monroeville native scored ’90s rock hits with Brother Cane, played guitar for Alice Cooper and Thin Lizzy and has written songs recorded by artists including Stevie Nicks and Santana.

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Montgomery County: Nat King Cole

Big-band and jazz legend, known for his crooning on such hits as “Unforgettable,” was born in Montgomery.

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Morgan County: Johnny Sandlin

Decatur-born musician known for his work as an audio engineer and producer with groups including the Allman Brothers, and Widespread Panic.

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Perry County: Hal Kemp

Marion-born jazz multi-instrumentalist and bandleader of the 1930s, featured on recordings and popular CBS and NBC radio shows of the time.

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Pickens County: Willie King

Memphis, Ala. resident achieved blues-music notoriety late in his life as a live performer at clubs and festivals and recorded at least five albums.

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Pike County: Pinetop Smith

Troy-born musician and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame inductee known for his boogie-woogie piano style.

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Randolph County: Vern Gosdin

Woodland-born singer scored more than a dozen top-10 hits, these included three number-ones, such as "Set 'Em Up Joe.”

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Russell County: Jo Jo Benson

Phenix City-born R&B singer known for groovy ’60s collabos with vocalist Peggy Scott on such tracks as “Soulshake.”

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St. Clair County: Jeanne Pruett

Country singer known for the 1973 smash “Satin Sheets” was born in Pell City.

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Shelby County: Brent Hinds

Pelham-born guitarist/singer with Grammy-nominated heavy-metal band Mastodon.

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Sumter County: Jimmie Rodgers

Geiger-born country music pioneer known for seminal recordings including "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)."

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Talladega County: Jimmy Carter

Original member of Talladega-founded, Grammy-winning gospel group The Blind Boys of Alabama.

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Tallapoosa County: Charles Davis Tillman

Tallassee-born southern-gospel music composer, publisher, performer and pioneer.

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Tuscaloosa County: Chuck Leavell

Keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, etc. grew up in Tuscaloosa.

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Walker County: Eric Dover

Jasper native was frontman for Guns N’ Roses guitar legend Slash’s band Snakepit, a member of ’90s power-pop cult-faves Jellyfish and played guitar for Alice Cooper.

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Washington County: Don Davis

Calvert-born pedal-steel guitarist, producer and Grand Ole Opry performer appeared on recordings by Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams and Conway Twitty.

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Wilcox County: Robert Petway

Believed to have been born in Gee’s Bend, singer/guitarist recorded “Catfish Blues” in 1941, a song which would influence artists including Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.

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Winston County: G.T. Speer

Patriarch of The Speer Family, an Alabama Music Hall of Fame southern-gospel group who grew up on a farm in the Double Springs area.