An exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum is making a six-week stop in Perry.
It's called Georgia Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.
Organizers say the efforts and events surrounding the exhibits arrival will live up to the mega-museum's stature.
Perry musician Roland Everett Fall can hardly remember when he couldn't play a chord. He said, "I been playing all my life basically."
His talents on the guitar and harmonica grew from a foundation built on instruments, hymnals and folk songs.
It's his own original roots music. Fall said, "It's all original contemporary music written in this time, which one day will be music of the past."
He's one of 60 performers taking part in the Georgia Harmonies celebration in Perry, which arrives with the traveling Smithsonian exhibit September 8th and stays until October 20th.
Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Sheila Jones scheduled at least one event showcasing the area's musical history each day of the six-week tour.
Jones said, "Were going to be highlighting anything from sacred to secular music, to bluegrass, and country."
The arts center in Perry is hosting the exhibit and many of the events, but festivities incorporate the musical heritage of cities throughout Central Georgia.
She said, "We have musicians coming in from Macon, Warner Robins, Byron, that are going to be supporting the exhibit."
Folks like Mickey Amberg and Billy Cox will participate. They don't make music, but do instruments, particularly guitars.
Cox said, "It's difficult, but you have to be dedicated."
They will give a seminar on handcrafting instruments, weaving their talents along side programs from the Macon Symphony Orchestra, memories of the Byron Pop Festival and Fall's campfire sing along.
Jones says Perry applied to the Georgia Humanities Council two years ago for the Smithsonian exhibit and the $2,500 grant that comes with it.
She says locally, they raised another $14,000 to make the exhibit's stay a huge production.
Nearly all of the events during the six-week period will be free and open to the public.
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