Georgia Music Hall of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Georgia Music Hall of Fame

Georgia Music Hall of Fame building
Established	September 22, 1996 (1996-09-22)
Dissolved	June 12, 2011 (2011-06-12)
Location	Macon, Georgia, United States
Type	Hall of fame

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was a special place in Macon, Georgia, United States. It opened in 1996 and closed in 2011. This Hall of Fame celebrated Georgia's rich musical history. It collected and displayed items from famous musicians. It also taught people about music and hosted performances. The goal was to help everyone appreciate Georgia's music. Sadly, it closed because not enough people visited, and it lost some funding.

After it closed, Mercer University bought the building in June 2012. The university now uses the building for its School of Medicine.

Discover Georgia's Music History

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame had amazing exhibits. They were set up to look like a small Georgia town. You could explore different "venues" like a Jazz and Swing Club. There was also a Vintage Vinyl shop and a Rhythm & Blues Revue. These areas showed off cool items and had videos and sounds.

The Hall of Fame also had special exhibits for a short time. These included "Keeps Calling Me Home: A Gram Parsons Retrospective." Another was "Let Freedom Sing: Music and the Civil Rights Movement." A popular one was '"Otis Redding: I've Got Dreams to Remember." This exhibit was even named "Museum Exhibition of the Year" in 2008.

Learning Through Music

Teaching about music was a very important part of the Hall of Fame's mission.

The Billy Watson Music Factory

This was a fun place for younger kids, from pre-kindergarten to elementary school. It was an interactive space where kids could learn about music. They could explore ideas like rhythm, melody, and how to create songs. It was all about hands-on learning.

MIKE: Music in Kid's Education

The MIKE program offered many different events all year long. It gave kids chances to see live music performances. They could also take music lessons and learn from experts.

Georgia Music Magazine

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Foundation also published a magazine. It was called Georgia Music Magazine and came out four times a year. This magazine was the official publication of the museum. It also took a deep dive into Georgia's music scene. It featured stories about famous musicians and important music places. The magazine also highlighted unsung heroes of Georgia music. You could read features, historical articles, news, and reviews.

How the Hall of Fame Began

The idea for the Georgia Music Hall of Fame started a long time ago. In 1978, a group in Georgia began studying the music industry. They wanted to see how music helped the state's economy. They also looked for ways to promote Georgia music.

Honoring Music Legends

In 1979, they created a program to honor Georgia musicians. These were artists who had made big contributions to music. The first two people honored were Ray Charles and music producer Bill Lowery. They were inducted on September 26, 1979.

Building a Home for Music

A leader named Zell Miller had a big dream. He wanted to create a public museum and archive. This place would keep records of Georgia's music history. It would also be a fun place for people to visit. In 1990, a special group was formed to build and run the Hall of Fame.

On September 22, 1996, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame officially opened. It was a large building, about 43,000 square feet. It had a main exhibit hall and a gift shop. There was also a research center and offices. It included a classroom and a reception room. In 1999, the Billy Watson Music Factory opened. This was the interactive area for younger students.

The Hall of Fame closed its doors on June 12, 2011. This was because not enough people were visiting. The museum's collection was then given to the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries. Today, parts of the exhibits are housed at different universities. These include the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and the University of West Georgia. Some items are also in private collections.

Inductees: Georgia's Music Stars

Many amazing musicians and people from the music industry were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. They were honored for their great contributions to music.

James Brown

Usher

Ray Charles

Whitney Houston

Otis Redding

L.A. Reid