At first glance, Dan Penn, a self-professed hillbilly from Alabama, may seem like an unlikely candidate for one of soul music’s greatest creative forces. Nevertheless, when considering the vital role he played in the development of soul music in both Muscle Shoals and Memphis, no other distinction is possible. During a career spanning over six decades, Penn has left an indelible mark on popular music as an iconic songwriter, a fearless producer, and a criminally underrated singer, merging the worlds of black R&B and white country music with a rarified expertise.