Georgia Music Hall of Fame


The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was a hall of fame to recognize music performers and music industry professionals from or connected to the state of Georgia. It began with efforts of the state's lieutenant governor Zell Miller to attract the music industry to Georgia. Following the first Georgia Music Week in 1978, the first Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards were held in 1979, with two inductees. The hall eventually had 163 inductees; the final inductions were made in 2015.
The Georgia Music Hall of Fame Museum was located in downtown Macon, Georgia, United States, from 1996 until it closed in 2011. The Hall of Fame museum 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 museum closed due to low attendance and reduced state funding. Mercer University purchased the former Hall of Fame museum building in June 2012; the university used the building for expanded programs within its School of Medicine.
WWW georgiamusic.org

History

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 state's music industry's economic impact and 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 September 26, 1979.
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 September 22, 1996, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame opened as a facility housing the 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 was donated to the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries. The exhibits are now housed at the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, the University of West Georgia, and in private collections.

Museum

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 museum's mission. The Billy Watson Music Factory served children in 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 the quarterly magazine, Georgia Music, from 2005 to 2013 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.

Inductees

YearArtistAwardReference
2015Gregg AllmanSongwriter Award
2015John and Jane BarbePioneer Award
2015Drivin' N' Cryin'Group Award
2015John HuieNon-Performer Award
2015Sam MoorePerformer Award
2015Monica PearsonChairman's Award
2015Sonny LimbaughPosthumous Award
2015Philip Walden Jr.Posthumous Award
2015Tim WilsonPosthumous Award
2014Danny BeardNon-Performer Award
2014Bobby ByrdPosthumous Award
2014Sean CostelloPosthumous Award
2014Frank FenterPosthumous Award
2014Wally FowlerPosthumous Award
2014Jeff FoxworthySpoken Word Award
2014Eddie HorstPosthumous Award
2014Lady AntebellumPerformer Award
2014Francine ReedPioneer Award
2014Ed RolandSongwriter Award
2014Wet WillieGroup Award
2013Pat AlgerSongwriter Award
2013The Forester SistersPioneer Award
2013Goodie MobPerformer Award
2013CeeLo GreenPerformer Award
2013KansasGroup Award
2013James "Alley Pat" PatrickNon-Performer Award
2013Whitney HoustonPosthumous Award
2013von GreyHorizon Award
2012Riley BiedererHorizon Award
2012Skinny Bobby HarperPosthumous Award
2012Alex HodgesNon-Performer Award
2012Johnny JenkinsPosthumous Award
2012Gary RossingtonSongwriter Award
2012Robert SpanoChairman's Award
2012Sugarland Performer Award
201238 SpecialGroup Award
2012Bob Van CampPosthumous Award
2011Judy ArgoPosthumous Award
2011Toni BraxtonPerformer Award
2011Paul CochranPioneer Award
2011Hall JohnsonPosthumous Award
2011Kenny LeonNon-Performer Award
2011Mother's FinestGroup Award
2011Jan "Mama Jan" SmithChairman's Award
2011Sonny TerryPosthumous Award
2010India.Arie
2010The Black CrowesGroup Award
2010Rev. Pearly BrownPosthumous Award
2010Charlie BruscoNon-Performer Award
2010Paul DavisPosthumous Award
2010Pete DrakePosthumous Award
2010John JaredPosthumous Award
2010Jennifer Larmore
2010Charles Wadsworth
2009Chris "Ludacris" Bridges
2009Dinah & Fred Gretsch Posthumous Award
2009Dottie Rambo
2009Hamp Swain
2009Keith Sweat
2009Widespread PanicGroup Award
2008Johnny L. Carson
2008Collective Soul
2008Peter Conlon
2008Bryan-Michael Cox
2008Roy Hamilton
2008Berry Oakley
2008Shakir Stewart
2008Third Day
2007Bobbie Bailey
2007Freddy Cole
2007Mylon LeFevre
2007Lynyrd Skynyrd
2007Babs Richardson
2007Usher
2006Gregg AllmanPerformer Award
2006Dallas AustinNon-Performer Award
2006Felice BryantPosthumous Award
2006Jermaine DupriSongwriter Award
2006R.E.M.Group Award
2005Doug Johnson
2005Patty Loveless
2005NewSong
2005The Sunshine BoysMary Tallent "Pioneer" Award
2004Mattiwilda DobbsMary Tallent Award
2004Hugh JarrettNon-Performer Award
2004Chuck LeavellPerformer Award
2004Mary Lou WilliamsPosthumous Award
2003Mike CurbNon-Performer Award
2003Indigo GirlsGroup Award
2003Kenny RogersPerformer Award
2003Alan WaldenMary Tallent Award
2002Clarence CarterPerformer Award
2002The HarmoneersMary Tallent Award
2002TLCGroup Award
2002Tom WrightNon-Performer Award
2001Roy DruskyMary Tallent Award
2001Alan JacksonPerformer Award
2001Ralph PeerPosthumous Award
2001L.A. ReidNon-Performer Award
2000The B-52'sGroup Award
2000Little Jimmy DempseyPosthumous Award
2000Michael GreeneNon-Performer Award
2000Trisha YearwoodPerformer Award
1999Mike ClarkeNon-Performer Award
1999Jessye NormanMary Tallent Award
1999Gram ParsonsPosthumous Award
1999Travis TrittPerformer Award
1998Allman Brothers BandGroup Award
1998Peabo BrysonPerformer Award
1998J. Lee FriedmanNon-Performer Award
1998Emma KellyMary Tallent Award
1997Atlanta Symphony OrchestraGroup Award
1997William BellPerformer Award
1997Dave PraterMary Tallent
1997Boots WoodallPosthumous Award
1996Atlanta Rhythm SectionGroup Award
1996Mac DavisPerformer Award
1996Joe GalkinMary Tallent Award
1996Rodney MillsNon-Performer Award
1995Chet AtkinsPerformer Award
1995Ray EberlePosthumous Award
1995Elmo EllisMary Tallent Award
1995Joel KatzNon-Performer Award
1994Isaac HayesPerformer Award
1994Gwen KeslerNon-Performer Award
1994Chuck WillisPosthumous Award
1993J. R. CobbNon-Performer Award
1993Curtis MayfieldPerformer Award
1993Sam WallacePosthumous Award
1993Dennis Yost & the Classics IVGroup Award
1992Emory Gordy Jr.Non-Performer Award
1992Connie HainesPerformer Award
1992The Lewis FamilyGroup Award
1992Ma RaineyPosthumous Award
1992The TamsMary Tallent Award
1991Joseph "Cotton" CarrierMary Tallent Award
1991Roland HayesPosthumous Award
1991Lena HornePerformer Award
1991Ray WhitleyNon-Performer Award
1990Wendy BagwellMary Tallent Award
1990Blind Willie McTellPosthumous Award
1990Ronnie MilsapPerformer Award
1990Chips MomanNon-Performer Award
1989Lee Roy AbernathyMary Tallent Award
Fletcher HendersonPosthumous Award
Gladys KnightPerformer Award
Harold SheddNon-Performer Award
1988Gid Tanner & the Skillet LickersPosthumous Award
Billy Joe RoyalPerformer Award
Robert ShawNon-Performer Award
Joe WilliamsMary Tallent Award
1987Alex CooleyNon-Performer Award
Felton JarvisPosthumous Award
Jerry ReedPerformer Award
Bob RichardsonMary Tallent Award
1986Hovie ListerMary Tallent Award
1986George Riley PuckettPosthumous Award
1986Tommy RoePerformer Award
1986Phil WaldenNon-Performer Award
1985Bill AndersonPerformer Award
1985Graham JacksonPosthumous Award
1985Eva Mae LeFevreMary Tallent Award
1985Zell MillerNon-Performer Award
1984Buddy BuieNon-Performer Award
1984Fiddlin' John CarsonMary Tallent Award
1984James MeltonPosthumous Award
1984Little Richard PennimanPerformer Award
1983James BrownPerformer Award
1983Albert ColemanNon-Performer Award
1983Harry JamesPosthumous Award
1983Piano Red PerrymanMary Tallent Award
1982Duane AllmanPosthumous Award
1982Boudleaux BryantNon-Performer Award
1982Brenda LeePerformer Award
1981Dr. Thomas A. DorseyNon-Performer Award
1981Otis ReddingPosthumous Award
1981Joe SouthPerformer Award
1980Johnny MercerPosthumous Award
1980Zenas "Daddy" SearsNon-Performer Award
1980Ray StevensPerformer Award
1979Ray CharlesPerformer Award
1979Bill LoweryNon-Performer Award