On Thursday, January 16, 2020, the Tubman Museum will host a special opening reception for the exhibition A Legacy of Soul: Macon’s Music Heritage. The reception will be held on the second floor of the museum from 6:00pm until 8:00pm
In the history of American popular music, Macon, Georgia is a source of innovation and artistry. This exhibition tells stories of the people and places that made Macon an important site in the evolution of R&B, Soul, Southern Rock, and American popular music in general. Beginning with Little Richard Penniman’s rise to international stardom in the 1950s, A Legacy of Soul explores and celebrates both local legends like Reverend Pearly Brown and Johnny Jenkins as well as nationally known performers such as James Brown, Otis Redding, and the Allman Brothers Band. It also pays tribute to important performance venues like the historic Douglass Theatre, Adams Lounge, the Two Spot and the Roxy Theatre, as well as local institutions like WIBB-AM Radio that in the 1950s and 60s nurtured the careers of these important artists and established Macon, Georgia as a center of creative energy.
Macon’s music heritage is made up of many stories of people from many walks of life. From the 1950s through the 1970s musicians, disc jockeys, club owners, music promoters, restaurateurs, and fans alike supported and promoted the Macon music scene in their own ways. Their stories are about race, they are about ingenuity, determination, innovation, talent, and above all great music. They are stories that everyone inside and outside of the community should know and be proud of. Soul is the legacy of Macon music.
Admission to the reception in FREE for Museum members, $5.00 for the General Public. This exhibition and reception are sponsored by the Griffith Family Foundation. A Legacy of Soul will remain on view at the Tubman through 2020. Contact the Tubman Museum (310 Cherry Street, Downtown Macon/ 478-743-8544 / www.tubmanmuseum.com) for more information about this event and other museum programs.