Blue Highways: Music Makes Macon Memorable

Home to Southern Rock royalty, Macon, Georgia works hard to maintain its historical past.

It is, in many ways, a quintessential southern city with beautiful historical churches that date back to the 1800’s, and streets lined with breathtakingly beautiful homes.

But it is also a city of surprises – many of them musical. Macon is more than merely genteel Southern living. It has another history – loud and proud – that rocks.

Macon is home to the Allman Brothers, Little Richard, Otis Redding, and half of R.E.M. It’s the home of Capricorn Records and the community where James Brown recorded his first soulful singles.

Country artist Jason Aldean was born in Macon and has cited his “little hometown” as an inspiration and instrumental to his development as an artist. He even named his 10^th studio album “Macon.” 

We make much of Athens rock and Atlanta hip hop, but Macon might be Georgia’s musical soul.

 Because my brother is a huge Allman Brothers fan, one of my first stops was their house. It’s a big house. Actually, it is referred to as the Big House, and it is open to visitors.

It is hard to be in that space without imagining sitting in the living room and listening to sweet southern sounds of “Melissa” and “Ramblin’ Man" filling the house as Duane and Gregg Allman jam on a hot August evening.

Capricorn Records was founded in Macon in 1969 and is credited with creating the southern rock genre, and the rest is history.

Artists on this label included the Allman Brothers, Delbert McClinton, Dixie Dregs, The Marshall Tucker Band and Percy Sledge, the R&B, soul, and gospel singer best known for his massive hit “When a Man Loves a Woman.” Many of the Capricorn records were recorded in the label’s Macon-based studio. That space, recently restored and reopened, also offers visitors access to Macon’s musical past.

Here are some musical sites worth investigating while in Macon:

The Otis Redding Museum: This museum is in the center of Downtown Macon. It features a wide variety of items and artifacts from the legendary singer. All the store’s sales proceeds go to the Otis Redding Foundation, which focuses on education.

Capricorn Sound Studios: During the 1970s, Capricorn Studios was known as the home of Southern rock. Thanks to the efforts of Mercer University, the studio was able to celebrate its 50th anniversary and become a vital part of the region’s music scene once again.

The Little Richard House: Visit Little Richard’s childhood home and learn more about the cherished icon. Free tours are available with an online reservation.

Rose Hill Cemetery: The Allman brothers’ final resting place is Rose Hill Cemetery, which also inspired many of their songs. The cemetery, which is also a park, features captivating scenery and is a great place to visit in the afternoon.

The Big House: All things the Allman Brothers. You may just meet Allman Brothers tour manager, and Augusta son, Willie Perkins. He was there when I visited and had some great stories.

“I said, other people can write songs, let’s see if I can. So, the first 400 or 500 wound up on the floor somewhere. Then I wrote one called Melissa.”

Gregg Allman