Weekly Column: Profiles in Places--Macon, Georgia

They call it the "Heart of Georgia." About 85 miles south of Atlanta, Macon sits on the Ocmulgee River and is home to just under 100,000 residents. No less than seven colleges are in or around the city. And the business climate is good, based in part on transportation and a nearby military base.

But what makes Macon the "Heart of Georgia" and one of the most interesting mid-sized cities in America are not the sights one sees but the sounds one hears. This is one of the most important cities in the history of American music.

That's why in 1996, the State of Georgia opened the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon. It was the obvious choice since the city has produced so many important artists, particularly in the eras of rock and roll and soul music.

Perhaps the first great Macon artist was Little Richard, one of the pioneers of early rock music. Later, the Allman Brothers set up shop in Macon and became one of the most influential bands around.

But it was another artist who came to most symbolize the heart and grit of this working-class city: Otis Redding. Redding was raised in Macon and began winning talents shows at the Douglass Theatre. Eventually, he was discovered by a local Macon businessman, Phil Warden, who became his manager. Redding became a pioneer of soul music and traveled the world taking his unique blend of soul and rock with him. He was also a prolific songwriter and wrote several classics, including "Respect," which Aretha Franklin made famous, and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." At the height of his power and fame, in December 1967, his private plane crashed in
Wisconsin killing him and most of his band. His body was returned home and buried outside of Macon.

This coming Sunday, April 19, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame will conclude a nearly two-year exhibit on the life and music of Macon's greatest artist:

http://www.macon.com/localnews/story/685823.html

And it was an exhibit that brought enormous attention and traffic to Macon. As the article notes:

"Lisa Love, executive director of the hall of fame, said revenue for the museum was up 30 percent in 2008 largely because of the exhibit.

“'The Otis exhibition has been a high point in the hall of fame’s history,' Love said. 'We forged a partnership with the Redding family that achieved a new level of excellence, drew visitors from around the world and made a significant impact on our revenue. The best part of all is that we did this by simply telling the story of a humble man from Macon, Georgia, whose music continues to resonate with fans 41 years after his passing.'”

Macon, Georgia is an important mid-sized city for its cultural contributions to America. And the Georgia Music Hall of Fame is a great museum to visit and learn more about this musical heritage. Of course, while visiting Macon, you can also experience the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Museum and the Harriet Tubman Museum.

So make sure and visit Macon. You'll realize there is a great deal of history as you cross the Otis Redding Bridge on the way into town.