Macon: Where Music is Like No Other
Macon, the centrally located heart of Georgia, has pumped out some of the most original, preternaturally talented icons in the state. The "Macon sound" isn’t limited to one genre; here, it’s all about the blending of elements – gospel and funk, soul and rock ‘n roll, country and blues.
Famous musicians from Macon
Otis Redding sang heartrending soul music that left listeners’ jaws on the floor. Before his untimely death at 26, he blew hippies’ minds with his quintessential performance at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Little Richard cut his teeth powering through gospel tunes in church, only to later become the wild, exuberant, rule-breaking Architect of Rock ‘n Roll.
The Allman Brothers threw a little bit of all these genres together and mixed them with a hefty dose of swagger to create what we now consider Southern Rock.
Other noteworthy Maconites: Bill Berry and Mike Mills, half of legendary alt-rockers R.E.M.; Young Jeezy, one of the defining voices of trap music; and Jason Aldean, country’s generation-defining powerhouse.
Can't-miss sites in Macon for music fans
The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House
The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House, a lovingly curated and authentic-as-it-gets tribute to the Allman Brothers Band and their many musical offshoots, is located in the three-story Tudor beauty that the brothers and friends called home in the 1970s. Featuring a dizzying array of memorabilia and spot-on recreations of some of the home's upstairs rooms, visiting The Big House is like stepping back to a groovier time.
H&H Restaurant
Keep the groove going with lunch at H&H Restaurant, where Mama Louise famously fed her stick-to-your-ribs soul food to the scrawny Allman Brothers Band for free, back in the days before they could afford to pay for a plate.
Rock Candy Tours
Rock Candy Tours offers some of the most innovative ways to experience Macon’s fascinating history. Founded by Jessica Walden (daughter of famed music exec Alan Walden) and her husband Jamie Weatherford, these tours – which are now offered by Visit Macon – are chock-full of insider info, colorful stories, and little-known facts, all delivered with humor, love, and respectful adoration.
Rose Hill Cemetery
Rose Hill Cemetery, where The Allman Brothers found inspiration for many of their songs, is also the final resting place for Duane, Gregg, and bandmate Berry Oakley. The cemetery was designed to do double duty as a park, and the scenery is captivatingly beautiful and well worth an afternoon stroll.
Otis Redding Statue
Visit the life-sized statue of Otis Redding, guitar on his knee, in Gateway Park on the banks of the Ocmulgee River.
Otis Redding Foundation
Reddings’ presence is felt throughout Macon, the place he proudly called home. In addition to the statue, pay tribute to him at the Otis Redding Foundation, operated by his family and dedicated to promoting Redding’s lasting dream to give back to the community, education, and access to music education for school-aged youth. The foundation serves as Redding’s official merchandise headquarters, as well as the Center for Creative Arts, and proceeds from merchandise sales and music lessons are returned to the Foundation’s outreach. If you plan accordingly, you can catch one of several heart-singing performances of the Otis Music Camp students or the Otis Redding Dream Choir held throughout the year.
Historic Douglass Theatre
In Macon’s vibrant downtown, you’ll find the Historic Douglass Theatre, constructed in 1921 by Macon’s first Black millionaire, Charles H. Douglass. Its stage has seen the likes of James Brown, Ma Rainey, and Bessie Smith, and is home to a number of musical and theatrical performances today.
Capitol Theatre
Capitol Theatre keeps talent coming through its historic doors, too – Drivin ‘n Cryin, Drive-by Truckers, and Lucinda Williams all have taken to the stage there.
Fresh Produce Records
While downtown, stop by Fresh Produce Records for all things vinyl, as well as tons of cool t-shirts, books, and other Macon music memorabilia.
Grant's Lounge
Grab a drink and explore the walls full of history at the legendary Grant's Lounge, where the Allman Brothers, Wet Willie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Charlie Daniels – among countless others – once jammed.
Mercer Music at Capricorn
Mercer Music at Capricorn opened in December 2019. In the 1970s, Capricorn Studios was synonymous with Southern Rock. History was made in that building, and, for its 50th birthday, thanks to a partnership with Mercer University, it’s receiving the revitalization it deserves, returning to its place as a living, breathing part of Macon’s thriving musical scene once again.
Among the features are two recording studios; a music incubator for artists to rehearse, record and store their equipment; office space and a museum dedicated to Capricorn's historic, groundbreaking, American music-defining significance – all which happened here, in Macon, Georgia.
