6 Famous Musicians from Macon, Georgia

Famous Musicians from Macon, Georgia

In Macon, it doesn’t take us long to get into the swing of things. Quite literally. From soulful vibes to country chords, the musical roots of Macon run deep. In fact, there are a number of famous musicians from Macon, Georgia. And they’ve played quite the role in garnering recognition for our city.

Otis Redding

“The King of Soul” is one of many famous musicians from Macon, Georgia—and wowed crowds with his soulful lyrics and soothing tones. Born in Dawson, Georgia, Redding moved to Macon when he was just two years old. The gifted singer-songwriter wrote “Respect,” immortalized by Aretha Franklin’s booming vocals. After his untimely death in 1967, Redding’s family became community leaders.

James Brown

Macon has a history of making voices heard. The funkiest voice the world has ever known was first recorded on vinyl in Macon.

Jason Aldean 

Another of the famous musicians from Macon, Georgia, Jason Aldean made his name in Nashville, but owes his roots to Macon. Born right here, he is recognized as a country music headliner. His accolades include ACM Entertainer of the Year and a slew of No. 1 singles and albums.

Allman Brothers Band

In 1969, the Allman Brothers Band made their way to Macon, teaming up with local label Capricorn Records. This collaboration produced Southern rock classics which connected with audiences still reeling from a fresh Beatles break-up.

Bill Berry and Mike Mills

Two of the founding members of R.E.M., Bill Berry and Mike Mills once called Macon home. Berry and Mills linked up with Peter Buck and Michael Stipe in 1980 to create the alt-rock band. Widespread fame followed suit, with the band producing many recognizable hits.

Little Richard

A showman through and through, Richard Penniman began life in Macon, Georgia in 1932. With a style that rattled even early rock ‘n’ roll, the artist has inspired the R&B and rock genres ever since.

Summary

Musicians of all stripes have come from, and made their careers known in, Macon. We guess things just move a little differently down here.

Macon’s not only home to marvelous musicians: we’re also home to great places to live. One of those places? Summer Park! Even if you’re not from around here (or if you are), we’d love to have you as a neighbor. See how our lifestyle lines up with yours. For more things Macon, make sure to give our blog another look!