James Quill Smith may not sound familiar to you. I asked my friend of fifty years, Kay Smith Payne, to tell me a little about her older brother. She shared two 4" ring binders full of newspaper articles, playbills, pictures, and all sorts of memorabilia that she had carefully kept of her only sibling. James Quill Smith, or Smitty as he preferred to be called, was born in … [Read more...] about James Quill Smith; Hometown Rock Star
Music
The Grand Ole Opry
It could be the most valuable $140 check in the world. At a glance, it doesn’t seem like a lot of money, yet its payment has launched careers, created celebrities, and changed the landscape of the music industry. That check, based on the union scale, is what each and every guest receives for an appearance on Nashville’s famed Grand Old Opry stage. Whether you are a new artist … [Read more...] about The Grand Ole Opry
Three Amazing Rock Bands, One Incredible Rock Show
Typically, when you read an after-the-fact article about a rock show, you'll get served a brief bio of the bands and the evening's setlist. This isn't going to be anything like that. Last Saturday night I attended a show that did double duty as a birthday party, dubbed Buford Jam 3. The event was held at the Tannery in downtown Buford, GA. More than just a show recap, this is … [Read more...] about Three Amazing Rock Bands, One Incredible Rock Show
The Beatles Took Atlanta By Storm, and I Was There
In August of 1965, two months after my high school graduation, the most extraordinary thing happened. A band called the Beatles held one concert in Atlanta, and I was there! Atlanta Stadium was demolished years ago, two of the band members have gone on to their rewards, and age has taken away my ability to sing and dance. But that memory lives on. This new band from across … [Read more...] about The Beatles Took Atlanta By Storm, and I Was There
An Introduction to Atlanta’s Rock N’ Roll World
In the spring of 1989, as a 19-year-old boy from the bayou, I made my way from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Norcross, GA. I was leaving behind a wild upbringing in a broken home, misspent youth, and virtually everything I had ever known. Georgia was the promised land, a brave new world where I could pursue the dreams I dared not dream during my turbulent and tumultuous childhood. … [Read more...] about An Introduction to Atlanta’s Rock N’ Roll World
