Tuesday June 6th, 2017

 I had been listening to Gregg Allman and The Allman Bros most of my life. Sure, I have listened to all kinds of genres of music for awhile, but whenever an Allman Bro's song came on, it always took precedence. Their music was always turned up when it came on. The Allmans Bros music always moved me and my life's memories would flood my mind every time Allman's was playing. The Allman Bros was my music. When I first heard of the Wanee Festival and found out that they were instrumental in creating this and other music festivals, I knew I had to go. And I did.

We had been hearing about Gregg's health for months. But then when it was announced that he was cancelling all of his shows, many of us got very concerned. It worried me and I suddenly wanted to know all I could about the man that wrote so many songs that were a big part of my life, and so I went out and bought Gregg's book "My Cross to Bear". 

To me, Greggory Lenoir Allman was immortal. I knew he was sick, and I had a feeling he wasn't going to be around much longer, but I just couldn't accept it. He has always been there. All of my life.

When I first heard the sad news of his passing I cried. I just couldn't believe it. I still don't actually. We have lost a lot of famous well loved musicians lately, but none has touched me more than Gregg Allman's passing. 

I love Macon Ga, and have stopped there several times over the years on my way to the Wanee Festival. I had family that lived there in the late '60's and early '70's, and we visited them often back then. 

After Gregg passed, I contemplated going down to Macon to pay my respects but just didn't know. Then I saw a post on facebook from some friends of mine and they were wanting to get friends together and be there in Macon for Gregg's funeral. I thought about it, and then decided yes, I want to go. I felt compelled to go and pay my last respects. I questioned my motive at first, but I knew in my heart that I wanted to be there for Gregg since he was always there for me all these years with his beautiful memory provoking music that played in the background of my life.

I was invited to come down to Macon by my friend Kim Callahan, so on Friday morning I drove the 300 miles from Tn and got into town and went straight to Rose Hill Cemetery. It was hotter there than Tennessee and it was very muggy as well. I parked my truck at the entrance of Rose Hill and walked down to the grave site next to Duane and Berrys grave. There were several people there. I looked at the plywood covering the freshly dug grave and cried some more. Many people there were visibly shaken by the reality that this was an area waiting for the body of Gregg Allman.

I left there and walked down to the grave of Elizabeth Reed Napier down by the railroad. I then headed up the hill on the main center road that is in the cemetery and talked to some people that were looking for Phil Walden's grave nearby. As I got almost to the top of the hill on my way back, I got extremely overheated. I sat down on a wall for awhile, and then headed for my truck. By the time I got to my truck I felt very weak, and my hands were shaking. I turned on the ac and started drinking water and eating Reese's and jelly beans trying to get the shakes to stop. At one point I even thought about calling paramedics because I felt so bad. After about an hour, I started feeling a bit better and called my friend Kim to get directions to her house.

After trying to recuperate at her house in Warner Robbins, we decided to get a bite to eat at a Mexican restaurant, but all I could eat was one bite of my burrito. I had no appetite whatsoever. I felt very drained at this point. 

I had never been to Grants Lounge, but I heard about it for years. So when Kim said let's go to Grants I was all for it. Even though I felt really bad, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to go to the famous Grants Lounge!

When we got there the place was packed. I mean packed! We made our way to the front near the stage and it was wall to wall people. It was hot, it was loud, and I was so exhausted from the road that I felt like I was going to turn green and fall out at any moment. But that's when the magic started happening. Even in my weakest hour I couldn't help but get moved by the music coming from those amplifiers. The band was in top form covering all of the Allmans tunes in fine fashion. The people in the crowd were all having fun, moving to the music, and there was a sence of comraderie that emanated from everyone I came in contact with. Everyone was polite and everyone was family. It was so fantastic to witness this and feel this genuine good vibe from so many people all around me. It gave me second wind! All of a sudden I wasn't suffering from possible heat exhaustion any more and was feeling just fine! Even though it was hot in there and everyone was sweating, it didnt matter. It felt so good to be a part of this and experience the Grants Lounge in all of it's hot & sweaty, loud glory like it used to be back in it's heyday years ago. I felt as if I stepped back in time and Gregg was going to walk in and play at anytime, like he used to do so many times before.

I never was able to get a beer but it didn't matter. Later on I went out front to spend some time on the front sidewalk talking to many Macon natives about all kinds of stuff. The differences in Harley Shovelheads and the newer Harley Evo's etc and the Music of Gregg Allman. Macon people are thankful of the Allman Bros and how they put Macon on the map. People in Macon are all colorblind, and I felt comfortable talking to everyone. I will forever love the people of Macon Ga.

The next morning, Saturday, we headed out to Macon to meet up with Toni and Guy, and Kathy, three of Kim's good friends and find a spot to view the funeral procession. We rode around looking for a good shaded spot and decided on an area under a huge old Magnolia tree on the corner of First Street and Mulberry Street which was just around the corner from Snows Funeral Home. Allman bros music was playing everywhere. From the cars passing by to the stores, everyone had Almman Bros playing loud. I went down to the Capitol Theater and on over to the Rookery and everywhere I went were people that loved and grew up with Gregg Allman. This town was all about Gregg Allman and the Allman Brothers. 

After a couple of hours, we heard the first whelps of the police cars and saw all the photographers scurrying down from the Media area and knew that the procession was starting. 

First came the police cars and then a couple of black suv's and then the police motorcycles. Afterwards came the hearse carrying Gregg Allman.

I took one picture of the front of the hearse, and then put my camera down. I watched teary eyed as the Family passed by. I saw Jaimoe, Chank, Galadriele Allman, Shannon Greggs widow, Devon Allman and the rest of the family. There was a girl that threw flowers in front of Greggs hearse. Some people applauded, many were crying, but everyone was touched and moved by the experience that they had just witnessed and everyone was reminded by just how much we all are part of the Allman Brothers Family. Everyone I spoke to was so grateful for being a part of this generation of great musicians at this point in time. We all lived in the time of the Allman Bros Band and all shared fond memories because of the music that we have come to love all of our lives.

 But there was no hint or sense of an end to it at all in the air. Not at all.

 Because the Road Goes On Forever.

Later on as we were heading to Toni and Guy's house, we got a call from Amy. She invited us to come by her house for the evening and be a part of the Big House Street party. Her house was an old victorian mansion situated just two doors away from the Big House Museum. She also invited several of her friends and relatives to her gorgeous home. In the back yard we could hear the Music coming from the Big House stage. Inside she had set out all kinds of good food and snacks for everyone, and up on the third floor there was a tiny Victorian balcony where we could see everything going on down below.

I met and spoke to some of the best people Macon has on that old Victorian front porch. People that knew Duane and the boy's personally and went to some of the party's back in the day. Old Allman Bros roadies that toured with them back in the Seventees, and several very knowledgeable and highly respected people that remember when the "hippies" first came to town, and even under all the social obstacles they faced back then were able to turn that town around and put Macon on the map!

Macon Georgia Loves the Allman Brothers and it shows. Everyone I spoke to had a story to tell. I was so amazed and felt so fortunate that I was able to be there and meet the people that lived there.

We partied on into the wee hours that night with the sounds of the Allman Brothers music coming from the Big House, and is was nothing short of spectacular. Michael Allman came outside of the gates and I shook his hand. My heart goes out to you Michael. 

Thank You Kim, Toni, Guy, Kathy, Carol, Amy, Charlie and so many of you that welcomed me to your beautiful city and made me feel at home. I am forever grateful for your insights, memories shared, and love that you showed me while I was there.

It warmes my heart so much to see so many people come out to the Big House and join in the celebration of the life of Gregg Allman.

The Road Goes On Forever.