Every American music road trip follows the same map: Memphis, Tennessee, for the blues, Nashville, Tennessee, for country and New Orleans, Louisiana, for jazz. But serious music travelers know there’s a stop missing. Macon, Georgia, is where Otis Redding, Little Richard and the Allman Brothers didn’t just perform; they were made, and almost nobody puts it on the itinerary.

kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpE :ED A62<[ r2AC:4@C? #64@C5D H2D @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE :?56A6?56?E =236=D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] %96 r92C=:6 s2?:6=D q2?5[ E96 |2CD92== %F4<6C q2?5 2?5 {J?JC5 $<J?JC5 2== C64@C565 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G:D:E>24@?]@C8^>FD:4^42AC:4@C?\DEF5:@D^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmr2AC:4@C? $@F?5 $EF5:@Dk^2m[ 2?5 E96 p==>2? qC@E96CD D:8?65 H:E9 r2AC:4@C? :? `heh 2?5 >256 |24@? E96:C 9@>6 32D6] y2>6D qC@H? C64@C565 2 56>@ 2E 2 |24@? C25:@ DE2E:@? E92E 42F89E E96 62C @7 2 z:?8 #64@C5D E2=6?E D4@FE 2?5 =2F?4965 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE :?7=F6?E:2= 42C66CD :? p>6C:42? >FD:4 9:DE@CJ[ H9:=6 {:EE=6 #:492C5 8C6H FA D:?8:?8 8@DA6= @? E96D6 DEC66ED] (92E 7@==@H65 H2D @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 4@?46?EC2E65 @FEA@FC:?8D @7 p>6C:42? >FD:4 7C@> 2 D:?8=6 4:EJ :? 2 D:?8=6 564256[ 2?5 2=>@DE ?@?6 @7 :E D9@HD FA @? E96 DE2?52C5 C@25 EC:A :E:?6C2CJ]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm$E2CE H96C6 E96 >FD:4 ?6G6C DE@AA65k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 D6C:@FD >FD:4 EC2G6=6C 5@6D?’E DE2CE 2E 2 >FD6F>] %96J DE2CE 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:DE@C:48C2?ED]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmvC2?E’D {@F?86k^2m[ E96 3C:4< 4=F3 @? !@A=2C $EC66E E92E @A6?65 :? `hf` 2?5 DE:== 5C2HD 4C@H5D H96? E96 |24@? |FD:4 #6GF6 E2<6D E96 DE286j 4964< E96 D4965F=6 @? E96:C H63D:E6 7@C 4FCC6?E 52E6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6GF6 :D 2 AC6D6CG2E:@? 32?5 4@?46:G65 3J E96 v6@C8:2 |FD:4 u@F?52E:@? :? E96 DA:C:E @7 }6H ~C=62?D’ !C6D6CG2E:@? w2== y2KK q2?5[ 565:42E65 E@ <66A:?8 E96 4:EJ’D >FD:42= s}p 2=:G6 2?5 2F5:3=6] %96:C 563FE 2=3F>[ C64@C565 2E r2AC:4@C? $@F?5 $EF5:@D 2?5 C6=62D65 :? pF8FDE a_ad[ 4@G6CD {:EE=6 #:492C5[ ~E:D #655:?8 2?5 E96 p==>2? qC@E96CD] $E2?5:?8 :? vC2?E’D @? 2 (65?6D52J[ :E 5@6D?’E 766= =:<6 2 EC:3FE6 24E] xE 766=D =:<6 E96 4:EJ :D C6>:?5:?8 :ED6=7 @7 H92E :E :D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%92E D2>6 DA:C:E 5C@G6 qC6?E r@33 E@ =2F?49 E96 :?2F8FC2= $@FE9 @7 pE=2?E2 76DE:G2= :? a_ad[ 2 EH@\52J 6G6?E E92E DAC625 24C@DD |24@?’D >@DE DE@C:65 G6?F6D] %96 q:8 w@FD6 |FD6F>[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]42A:E@=E962EC6>24@?]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmr2A:E@= %962EC6k^2m[ r2AC:4@C? $@F?5 $EF5:@D 2?5 vC2?E’D {@F?86 2== 9@DE65 A6C7@C>2?46D 24C@DD E96 H66<6?5 76DE:G2=] r2A:E@= %962EC6 :ED6=7 :D H@CE9 E96 G:D:E @? :ED @H? E6C>D[ 2 362FE:7F==J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^9:89\6?5\DE2JD\:?\9:DE@C:4\3F:=5:?8D^QmC6DE@C65 9:DE@C:4 G6?F6k^2m :? E96 962CE @7 5@H?E@H? E92E 92D 366? 5C2H:?8 2F5:6?46D D:?46 `ha_ 2?5 E@52J 9@DED 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> E@FC:?8 24ED E@ 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?ED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmuC@> E96C6[ E96 EC2:= =625D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^42AC:4@C?]>6C46C]65F^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmr2AC:4@C? $@F?5 $EF5:@Dk^2m :ED6=7[ C6G:E2=:K65 E9C@F89 2 AC@;64E =65 3J |6C46C &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 C64@C5:?8 282:? D:?46 a_`h] |@C6 E92? fd_ D6DD:@?D 92G6 E2<6? A=246 :? E9@D6 C@@>D[ H:E9 r9F4< {62G6==[ |2C4FD z:?8 2?5 qC6?E r@33 2>@?8 E96 2CE:DED H9@ 92G6 A2DD65 E9C@F89] %96 DEF5:@ E92E 96=A65 567:?6 $@FE96C? C@4< :D @?46 282:? 5@:?8 H92E :E H2D 3F:=E E@ 5@]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm%96 A6@A=6 H9@ >256 :Ek^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 566A6C E96 EC2G6=6C 8@6D :?E@ |24@?[ E96 =6DD E96 4:EJ’D >FD:42= 9:DE@CJ 766=D =:<6 9:DE@CJ] %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@F8=2DDE962EC6]@C8^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQms@F8=2DD %962EC6k^2m @? |2CE:? {FE96C z:?8 yC] q@F=6G2C5 :D H96C6 2 E66?286 ~E:D #655:?8 4@>A6E65 :? E2=6?E D9@HD 7@C E96 Sd AC:K6] w6 H@? `d 4@?D64FE:G6 E:>6D 367@C6 E96 E962E6C 32CC65 9:> 7C@> 6?E6C:?8] s@H? @? r@EE@? pG6?F6[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^G:D:E>24@?]@C8^5:C64E@CJ^@E:D\C655:?8\>FD6F>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm~E:D #655:?8 |FD6F>k^2m 9@=5D A:646D 7C@> E96 72>:=J’D A6CD@?2= 4@==64E:@?[ 2?5 E96 C646?E=J @A6?65 ~E:D #655:?8 r6?E6C 7@C E96 pCED 92D 25565 C64@C5:?8 DEF5:@D[ C6962CD2= DA246D 2?5 2 A6C7@C>2?46 2>A9:E962E6C E@ E96 3=@4< 9:D 72>:=J 3F:=E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp 76H 3=@4<D 2H2J[ E96 DE@CJ @7 {:EE=6 #:492C5 DE2CED ?@E H:E9 2 C64@C5 3FE H:E9 2 49FC49] q@C? :? |24@? :? `hba[ 96 A6C7@C>65 2D 2 E66?286C 2E H92E :D ?@H E96 %:4 %@4 #@@>[ 2 5@H?E@H? 32C 2?5 >FD:4 G6?F6 H9@D6 H2==D 42CCJ >@C6 E92? 2 46?EFCJ @7 9:DE@CJ] w6 3642>6 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE `_ :?5F4E66D E@ E96 #@4< 2?5 #@== w2== @7 u2>6] w:D 49:=59@@5 9@>6[ E96 {:EE=6 #:492C5 w@FD6[ DE:== DE2?5D 2D 2 4@>>F?:EJ 46?E6C 2?5 9:DE@C:42= =2?5>2C<]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmy2>6D qC@H? >@G65 E@ |24@? H:E9 9:D 32?5[ C64@C565 2 56>@ 2E =@42= C25:@ DE2E:@? (xqq E92E 42F89E E96 2EE6?E:@? @7 2 z:?8 #64@C5D E2=6?E D4@FE[ 2?5 H2D D:8?65 @? E96 DA@E] %96 EC2G6=6C H9@ H2=<D E96D6 3=@4<D H:E9 E92E <?@H=6586 DE@AD D66:?8 5@H?E@H? |24@? 2D 2 BF:6E $@FE96C? 4:EJ 2?5 DE2CED D66:?8 :E 7@C H92E :E 24EF2==J :Di E96 C@@> H96C6 p>6C:42? >FD:4 H2D HC:EE6?]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm(96C6 E96 D46?6 2E6 2?5 D=6AEk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 p==>2? qC@E96CD 5:5?’E ;FDE C64@C5 :? |24@?] %96J =:G65 96C6[ 2?5 E96 4:EJ 765 E96>] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92?59D@F=7@@5]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmwU2>Ajw #6DE2FC2?Ek^2m @? r@EE@? pG6?F6 92D 366? D6CG:?8 D@F= 7@@5 D:?46 `hdh[ 7@F?565 3J x?6K w:== 2?5 {@F:D6 wF5D@?] (96? E96 p==>2? qC@E96CD H6C6 3C@<6 2?5 9F?8CJ :? E96 62C=J J62CD[ |2>2 {@F:D6 765 E96> 2?JH2J] %96 7C:6?5D9:A =2DE65 564256D] $96 C@56 E96 E@FC 3FD :? `hfa] wU2>Ajw 4=@D65 7@C 2 DEC6E49 27E6C |2>2 w:== A2DD65[ C6@A6?65 :? a_`c[ 2?5 DE:== D6CG6D E96 D2>6 4@@<:?8 E92E >256 :E 2 |24@? :?DE:EFE:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C@@<6CJ>24@?]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 #@@<6CJk^2m 92D 366? @? r96CCJ $EC66E D:?46 E96 =2E6 `hf_D[ H96? r2AC:4@C? H2D AC6DD:?8 C64@C5D 2?5 E96 4:EJ H2D 2E :ED 4@>>6C4:2= A62<] %96 p==>2? qFC86C :D DE:== @? E96 >6?F] $@ 2C6 E96 92?5\DAF? >:=<D92<6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmu@C 5:??6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>24@?5@H?E@H?8C:==]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQms@H?E@H? vC:==k^2m @44FA:6D 2 DA246 =2J6C65 H:E9 >FD:4 =@C6] {@42= =@C6 9@=5D E92E vC688 p==>2? AC@A@D65 E@ r96C 2E 2 AC65646DD@C C6DE2FC2?E @? E96 D2>6 D:E6[ 2?5 E92E >FD:4:2?D 2?5 46=63C:E:6D >@G65 E9C@F89 E96D6 C@@>D 7@C 564256D] %@52J[ :E CF?D 2D 2? FAD42=6 DE62<9@FD6 H:E9 AC:>6 q=24< p?8FD 2?5 2? 6IE6?D:G6 H:?6 =:DE] %96 EC2G6=6C H9@ H2?ED E@ <66A E96 ?:89E 8@:?8 9625D E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C6DJ]4@>^4:E:6D^>24@?\82^G6?F6D^E96\>@?<6JD\A2H\E:<:\=@F?86Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 |@?<6J’D !2H %:<: {@F?86k^2m[ 2 C6D6CG2E:@?\@?=J CF> 32C H:E9 2 DA62<62DJ 2E>@DA96C6[ 2 D9@CE H2=< 2H2J]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm(96C6 E@ DE2J 2?5 H92E E@ D66k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2CC:@EE]4@>^6?\FD^9@E6=D^>4?EI\9@E6=\7@CEJ\7:G6\>24@?\2\EC:3FE6\A@CE7@=:@\9@E6=^@G6CG:6H^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmw@E6= u@CEJ u:G6k^2m :D E96 7:CDE 3@FE:BF6 9@E6= :? |24@?’D w:DE@C:4 r6?EC2= qFD:?6DD s:DEC:4E[ D:EF2E65 :? E96 962CE @7 5@H?E@H? @? r@EE@? pG6?F6] %96 AC@A6CEJ E2<6D :ED ?2>6 7C@> E96 DEC66E’D cd\568C66 2?8=6 E9C@F89 E96 4:EJ 8C:5[ 2?5 E96 >FD:4 9:DE@CJ 42CC:6D E9C@F89 E@ E96 w:89E2=6D C@@7E@A 32C[ H96C6 E96 4@4<E2:= =:DE C625D =:<6 2 D6E=:DE 7C@> E96 r2AC:4@C? J62CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm}@ G:D:E 6?5D H:E9@FE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E963:89@FD6>FD6F>]4@>^Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm%96 q:8 w@FD6 |FD6F>k^2m @? ':?6G:==6 pG6?F6[ E96 %F5@C 9@>6 H96C6 E96 p==>2? qC@E96CD 2?5 E96:C 6IE6?565 4:C4=6 =:G65 7C@> `hf_ E@ `hfb] %96 >FD6F> 9@FD6D H92E :E 56D4C:36D 2D E96 H@C=5’D =2C86DE 4@==64E:@? @7 p==>2? qC@E96CD q2?5 >6>@C23:=:2] s:4<6J q6EED HC@E6 q=F6 $<J :? E96 =:G:?8 C@@> 2?5 #2>3=:?’ |2? :? E96 <:E496?] %96 D6C:@FD >FD:4 EC2G6=6C DE2?5D :? E9@D6 C@@>D 2?5 F?56CDE2?5D[ 7:?2==J[ H9J |24@? 36=@?8D @? E96 >2A]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm%96 C@25 EC:A DE@A E92E C67C2>6D 6G6CJE9:?8k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|6>A9:D 2?5 }2D9G:==6 56D6CG6 E96:C A=246] qFE 2 C@25 EC:A E92E D<:AD |24@? D<:AD E96 4:EJ H96C6 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E >FD:4 :? p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ H2D ?@E A6C7@C>65 7@C E@FC:DED 3FE 24EF2==J >256 :? DEF5:@D[ E2=6?E D9@HD[ 49FC49 A6HD 2?5 <:E496?D] %92E DE@CJ :D DE:== 96C6[ DE:== :?E24E 2?5 >@C6 2=:G6 E92? :E 92D 366? :? 564256D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmy6??:76C p==6? :D 2 C6E:C65 4967 EFC?65 EC2G6=6C[ 4@@<3@@< 2FE9@C 2?5 ?2E:@?2==J DJ?5:42E65 ;@FC?2=:DEj D96’D 2=D@ 2 4@\7@F?56C @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m[ H96C6 D96 D92C6D 6IA6CE EC2G6= E:AD[ 4CF:D6 :?D:89ED 2?5 =FIFCJ 56DE:?2E:@? 8F:56D] p C64@8?:K65 4CF:D6 6IA6CE H:E9 2 566A A2DD:@? 7@C 9:89\6?5 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 @77\E96\362E6?\A2E9 56DE:?2E:@?D[ y6??:76C 6IA=@C6D E96 H@C=5 H:E9 4FC:@D:EJ[ 56AE9 2?5 2 DE@CJE6==6C’D A6CDA64E:G6] w6C 2CE:4=6D 2C6 C68F=2C=J 762EFC65 @? E96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD (:C6[ %96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE[ $62EE=6 %:>6D[ |$} 2?5 >@C6]k^Am
kAm%96 A@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^>24@?\86@C8:2\>FD:4\EC2G6=\8F:56^Qm|24@?[ v6@C8:2[ 92D @?6 @7 E96 8C62E p>6C:42? >FD:4 DE@C:6D[ 2?5 2=>@DE ?@ @?6 >2<6D E96 EC:Ak^2m 2AA62C65 7:CDE @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m]k^Am

