Georgia Music Hall of Fame


The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was located in downtown Macon, Georgia, United States, from 1996 until it closed in 2011. The Hall of Fame preserved and interpreted the state's musical heritage through programs of collection, exhibition, education and performance; it attempted to foster an appreciation for Georgia music and tried to stimulate economic growth through a variety of dynamic partnerships and initiatives statewide. The Hall of Fame closed due to low attendance and reduced state funding.
Mercer University purchased the former Hall of Fame building in June 2012; the university will use the building for expanded programs within its School of Medicine.

Exhibits

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame's permanent exhibit space was designed to resemble a Georgia town where venues such as the Jazz and Swing Club, Vintage Vinyl and Rhythm & Blues Revue house artifacts, interpretive text and audio visual elements. Temporary exhibits included "Keeps Calling Me Home: A Gram Parsons Retrospective", "Let Freedom Sing: Music and the Civil Rights Movement" and '"Otis Redding: I've Got Dreams to Remember", named "Museum Exhibition of the Year" in 2008 by the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries.

Education

Education was at the core of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame's mission. The Billy Watson Music Factory served children grades pre-K through elementary by encouraging the exploration of musical concepts like rhythm, melody and composition in a hands-on learning environment. MIKE provided a series of programs offering live music performances and music instruction opportunities throughout the year.

''Georgia Music Magazine''

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Foundation published Georgia Music Magazine quarterly as both the official museum magazine and an in-depth look at Georgia music. The state's legends, landmarks and unsung heroes were explored through features, historical articles, news and reviews.

History

Founding

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame's institutional history began in 1978 when the Georgia General Assembly created the Senate Music Recording Industry Committee to study the economic impact of the state's music industry and to explore ways to promote Georgia music and attract music businesses to the state. In 1979, the Committee developed a Georgia Music Hall of Fame program honoring Georgia musicians who have made significant contributions to the music industry, with Ray Charles and music publisher Bill Lowery named the first inductees on Sept. 26, 1979.

Physical facility

Owing much to the vision of then Lt. Governor Zell Miller, the Committee also endeavored to create a public museum and archive to document the state's music heritage and serve as a cultural heritage destination. In 1990, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority was created as an instrumentality of the State of Georgia and a public corporation with the stated corporate purpose and general nature: 1) to construct and maintain a facility to house the Georgia Music Hall of Fame; 2) to operate, advertise and promote the Georgia Music Hall of Fame; and 3) to promote music events at the facility and throughout the state. On Sept. 22, 1996, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame opened as a facility housing a main exhibit hall, a retail store, the Zell Miller Center for Georgia Music Studies, an administrative wing, a classroom and a reception room. In 1999, the second phase of the museum, The Billy Watson Music Factory, an interactive and interpretive exhibit space for pre-K through elementary students, opened.
The hall was closed on June 12, 2011 due to lack of attendance, and the collection donated to the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries. The exhibits are now being housed at the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, the University of West Georgia, and in private collections.

Inductees

2015Gregg AllmanJohn BarbeJane BarbeDrivin' N' Cryin'John HuieSam MooreMonica PearsonSonny LimbaughPhilip Walden, Jr.Tim Wilson
2014Danny BeardJeff FoxworthyLady AntebellumFrancine ReedEd RolandWet WillieWally Fowler---
2013Goodie MobCeeLo GreenKansasJames "Alley Pat" PatrickPat AlgerThe Forester SistersWhitney Houstonvon Grey--
2012Alex HodgesSugarland38 SpecialGary RossingtonRobert SpanoSkinny Bobby HarperJohnny JenkinsBob Van Camp--
2011Toni BraxtonKenny LeonMother's FinestJan "Mama Jan" SmithPaul Cochran-----
2010Charlie BruscoIndia.ArieThe Black CrowesCharles WadsworthJennifer LarmoreRev. Pearly BrownPaul DavisPete DrakeJohn Jarrard-
2009Johnny L. CarsonCollective SoulPeter ConlonBryan-Michael CoxRoy HamiltonBerry OakleyShakir StewartThird Day--
2008Chris "Ludacris" BridgesDinah & Fred GretschDottie RamboHamp SwainKeith SweatWidespread Panic----
2007Bobbie BaileyFreddy ColeMylon LeFevreLynyrd SkynyrdBabs RichardsonUsher----
2006Gregg AllmanDallas AustinFelice BryantJermaine DupriR.E.M.-----
2005Doug JohnsonPatty LovelessNewSongThe Sunshine Boys------
2004Mattiwilda DobbsHugh JarrettChuck LeavellMary Lou Williams------
2003Mike CurbIndigo GirlsKenny RogersAlan Walden------
2002Clarence CarterThe HarmoneersTLCTom Wright------
2001Roy DruskyAlan JacksonL. A. ReidRalph Peer------
2000the B-52sLittle Jimmy DempseyMichael GreeneTrisha Yearwood------
1999Mike ClarkeJessye NormanGram ParsonsTravis Tritt------
1998Allman Brothers BandPeabo BrysonEmma KellyJ. Lee Friedman------
1997Atlanta Symphony OrchestraWilliam BellDave PraterBoots Woodall------
1996Atlanta Rhythm SectionMac DavisJoe GalkinRodney Mills------
1995Chet AtkinsRay EberleElmo EllisJoel Katz------
1994Isaac HayesGwen KeslerChuck Willis-------
1993J. R. CobbCurtis MayfieldSam WallaceDennis Yost & the Classics IV------
1992Emory Gordy Jr.Connie HainesThe Lewis FamilyMa RaineyThe Tams-----
1991Joseph Cotton CarrierRoland HayesLena HorneRay Whitley------
1990Wendy BagwellBlind Willie McTellRonnie MilsapChips Moman------
1989Lee Roy AbernathyFletcher HendersonGladys KnightHarold Shedd------
1988Gid Tanner & the Skillet LickersBilly Joe RoyalRobert ShawJoe Williams------
1987Alex CooleyFelton JarvisJerry ReedBob Richardson------
1986Hovie ListerGeorge Riley PuckettTommy RoePhil Walden------
1985Bill AndersonGraham JacksonEva Mae LeFevreZell Miller------
1984Buddy BuieFiddlin' John CarsonJames MeltonLittle Richard Penniman------
1983James BrownAlbert ColemanHarry JamesPiano Red PerrymanRoba Stanley-----
1982Duane AllmanBoudleaux BryantBrenda Lee-------
1981Dr. Thomas A. DorseyOtis ReddingJoe South-------
1980Johnny MercerZenas "Daddy" SearsRay Stevens-------
1979Ray CharlesBill LoweryLena Horne-------