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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Georgia Music on My Mind
Travel to the state's musical hot spots
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the weekend, many Georgians had the chance to rock out to the sounds of homegrown musical superstars R.E.M. at Lakewood Amphitheatre. If you’re my age - and especially if you grew up around here - you know how influential R.E.M. was in creating a music industry in Athens, Ga. For the past quarter century, that college town northeast of Atlanta has been a destination for many bands and music aficionados alike.
I enjoy just about every kind of music, and I admit that Athens’ music scene was a big draw for me when I enrolled at the University of Georgia. When I was still in high school, I would drive up to the Uptown Lounge in Athens to hear bands like Dreams So Real (it was 1989). I didn’t get into the famous 40 Watt until I was officially a student - and actually old enough to be in the clubs (18).
For music fans, Athens is definitely a must see; but it’s by no means the only place to go in this great state to get a taste of the South’s rich musical heritage. This week, we will look at Georgia’s many musical destinations. Next week, we’ll expand our scope and check out the different places you can go in our region to explore music from bluegrass to rock-n-roll and country to zydeco.
If I was putting together a musical tour of Georgia, these are some of the places in addition to Athens that would make the list…
Head to Albany to check out Ray Charles’ birthplace and enjoy the $2.25 million park and revolving bronze statue showing the singer at his piano built in honor the man who keeps Georgia on our Minds.
Walk the streets where the Godfather of Soul James Brown spent his youth shining shoes and dancing in Augusta. Then head to the Augusta Museum of History to check out its exhibit of Mr. “I Feel Good”. The city is still working on plans to build a museum to honor the entertainer, who died in December 2006.
Stay in town to explore Atlanta’s internationally-famous hip hop scene at one of the dozens of hip hop clubs around town.
Round out your musical tour in Macon at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Years ago, we discovered that my husband’s great uncle is a hall of fame inductee. Since then, we have stopped in to visit the museum many times. The exhibits are well done, and we all enjoy learning more about the broad spectrum of artists that call - or once called - Georgia their home. Southern Rock fans will also find Macon’s Rose Hill Cemetery and 2321 Vineville Avenue interesting stops. The cemetery is where you can find the gravesites of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley of the Allman Brothers Band overlooking, and members of the band lived, played and wrote many of their famous songs in the Big House on Vineville.
Would any of these places make your list of stops on a musical tour of Georgia? What do you like about them? Where else would go to celebrate the diversity of Georgia’s musical heritage?
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