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 The Music Memories Museum in Swainsboro Georgia is one mile from The Nancy Auditorium where Country Music singer Hank Williams Jr. performed in front of a  live audience for the very first time March 22, 1958. He was only 8 years old and was with his mother Audrey Williams. Brenda Lee, famous for the song "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree" had her first paid performance on the same stage in 1953 at the age of 9, she was paid $35. Patsy Cline performed on the stage in 1957 at the age of 25. Also Rock-n-Roll singer J.P. Richardson known as "The Big Bopper" performed on the same stage in November 1958 and 3 months later he died in the airplane crash with Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly  known as  "The Day The Music Died". 

Jack A. Thompson opened the  WJAT radio station in April 1950.  The radio call letters was his initials. He later developed a plan for an auditorium to be used for concerts. Known as the Peach State Jamboree. The auditorium was attached to the radio station. It was opened April 1954. It was named after his wife Nancy. 

In  1957 Grand Ole Opry star Webb Pierce and General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry Jim Denny went in as partners and purchased the Nancy Auditorium and WJAT radio station. They had some sort of arrangement, if they booked a group or singer for the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN.  they also had to perform at the Nancy Auditorium in Swainsboro GA.. Johnnie Bailes of the Bailes Brothers also  moved to Swainsboro about the same time. Webb Pierce  hired Johnnie Bailes as the General Manager for WJAT radio. Johnnie lived in Swainsboro until he died in 1989.

Hundreds of famous singers performed in Swainsboro between the 1950s-1970s such as; (Country Singers) Patsy Cline,  Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, Brenda Lee, Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Ray Price, Hank Snow, Mel Tillis, Kitty Wells, Ernest Tubb, Carl Perkins, Jim Reeves,  Connie Smith, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Little Jimmy Dickens, George Morgan, Minnie Pearl, Red Sovine, Carl Smith, Porter Wagner, Statler Brothers, Wilburn Brothers, Faron Young, (Gospel Singers) Blackwood Brothers, Happy Goodman Family, Bailes Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys, Chuck Wagon Gang, Lewis Family, Byrd Family, JD Sumner & The Stamps and (Rock-N-Roll Singers) Jerry Lee Lewis,  Big Bopper, The Kinks, 3 Dog Night, Tony Orlando & Dawn ,The Tams, Swinging Medallions and many others. You can see the entire list of singers who performed at the Nancy Auditorium in our museum. 

The Nancy Auditorium is only one mile from the Music Memories Museum. It's not open to the public at this time..

As long as I can remember I always loved to sing. I enjoyed all types of music. 

I remember my father told me that whatever you love to do, be sure to get around as many other people who love to do the same thing and learn all you can about it. 

I ended up in the music industry for over 20 years. I started singing secular music, a little rock-n-roll but more country music. During that time I was introduced to country singer Ronnie McDowell. Through his friendship I was able to  meet many singers such as; Conway Twitty,  Reba McEntire, Roy Clarke, Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Lee Lewis, Tanya Tucker,  Sawyer Brown, just to name a few. But one memory I will never forget was when I had the rare opportunity to stand side by side with Roy Acuff on the grand Ole Opry stage.. But later in life in the early 1990s, I was introduced to someone else... His name was Jesus, and I gave my life to the Lord and started singing Southern Gospel Music.  In 1995 I recorded my own Southern Gospel Music CD. I sent it out to radio stations and took the time to call the disc jockeys and asked them to play my music. Then the next amazing thing happened... The song "It's Gonna Be A Good Day" charted at #34 in the Top 40 in the USA. My music then reached out the USA. In 2006 I became the first and only Southern Gospel Recording Artist  to have five songs simultaneously chart in the Top 25 in the UK on SonRise Radio and two of those songs "By Faith" and "It's Gonna Be A Good Day" reached #1 on the charts and stayed in the Top 40 charts for almost 6 months.

I was also invited as special guest on "Dove Broadcasting TV Network" and the "Atlanta Live TV Network". I was full time  from 1995 - 2013 performing over 250 concerts a year.  

What makes this incredible, all this happened without a Radio Promoter, 

Booking Agent or Record Company. 

Now that I'm retired from full-time singing, I'm enjoying my other passion, Antiques. I've been the manager since 2014 for Main Street Market Antique Mall. 

I decided to share my music memories of singers I grew up listening to on the radio and some that I had the opportunity to meet personally through my private collection of hundreds of authentic autographs, personal items and clothing once owned by Country Music, Rock n Roll and R&B singers. You can see my private collection at the Music Memories Museum located inside Main Street Market Antique Mall. I thought Swainsboro Georgia would be a great location for the museum because of all the music history it has. I hope on your visit you will find a personal item from your favorite singer that brings back a special memory in your life... 

Sincerely, Michael Bright

www.michaelbrightmusic.com