Mural on H&H restaurant pays tribute to legendary founders and Allman Brothers Band
Magic is happening at 807 Forsyth St. at the H&H Soul Food Restaurant.
The wizardry is being performed by artist Steven Teller who is creating a gigantic mural on the restaurant’s side depicting the women who began the H&H in 1959, Inez Hill and Louise Hudson – best known as “Mama Hill” and “Mama Louise” – and the original members of the Allman Brothers Band.
The women started serving meals at Hayes and Third Street before moving to Cotton Avenue then ending up on Forsyth.
Legend has it – and there’s a legend affixed to the best magic, right? In this case, a legend based in fact – but as legend has it, one day in the late-‘60s/early-‘70s before crossing the bridge between being starving musicians to becoming wildly popular rock stars, the band wandered into the H&H, pooled their meager funds and had only enough to buy two meals for the six of them.
Mama Louise took pity, as some sort of fairy godmother might, and turned their two meals into a full meal for each of them.
“Pay me when you can,” she said.
More kindnesses followed and a friendship developed lasting throughout the band’s run. That friendship made the H&H famous far and wide wherever Allman Brothers lore spread.
Oprah Winfrey even dropped in once to eat and pay respects to the two women who not only feed poor musicians but played significant parts in Macon’s history as Black entrepreneur-business women.
So as Teller selects a wand and waves it, the story is put on display for generations to come.
Of course, in this case, the “wand” is one of many, many cans of spray paint and Teller’s arm-waving involves more skill and talent than magic – though anyone who’s seen the mural will attest it is both magnificent and magical.
See it for yourself after it’s finished next week and no doubt you’ll agree. Go by for a look-see and a meal. Unfortunately, you won’t find its founders there. Following the death of Hill and retirement of Hudson, the place is operated by Macon’s Moonhanger Group who commissioned the mural.
As it turns out, having Teller do it is quite serendipitous since he’s not only skilled with street murals and smaller artworks but is a long-time Allman Brothers fan.
“We tried to recall just how I got picked for it but couldn’t,” Teller said. “I think they saw some of my work on Instagram but there were other connections, too. We did all agree how important it was to honor and preserve the H&H’s history, its role in Macon and the story of the special relationship with the Allman Brothers.”
As you would imagine, Teller has had many meals at the restaurant in past weeks. He said his favorites are The Midnight Rider breakfast sandwich and a smoked turkey lunch with fried okra and collard greens.
A Florida native, Teller said he’s been to Macon multiple times previously and seen the Allman Brothers-related sites. Noting further serendipity, he said his college roommate was actually Creigh Lyndon, nephew of Twiggs Lyndon, the band’s original road manager.
Teller said all this gives the work special meaning to him, adding he’s pushed himself further with it than where he’s gone in previous works.
“Like right now, it’s a matter of painting this really giant person playing a ’57 Les Paul guitar and wearing a very detailed shirt – a lot of super detail everywhere,” Teller said. “There are eight out-and-out portraits in the mural. It’s a bigger undertaking than normal but I love the band and am really stoked to do this. I may never do another Allman Brothers mural so this is super elaborate with some awesome challenges.”
Even so, Teller said he generally finds it easier to do details working big rather than small. But that would be hard to tell looking at his smaller work, including a smaller portrait of Gregg Allman he created and is selling prints of on his website.
Teller said though the H&H piece is special, he has high ambitions and thoughts concerning all his street art and murals.
“You’re creating for multiple audiences and you want to offer something to all of them,” he said. “With this, people will see it who know all about the Allman Brothers, big fans, so you want to give them details they’ll enjoy. You also want to make sure you get things right. Then there are other people less familiar but who want to have a look and maybe take a picture in front of it. I don’t usually like painting a special selfie spot in what I do but with this one it’s different and I did an H&H circle because of the history and the attraction it is.”
Teller said then there are the people just passing or driving by and happen to see it.
“For them, it needs to just be something beautiful,” he said. “In my eyes, there’s a responsibility doing public art. I need to make it enjoyable through the colors, in it being natural and harmonious. In a way, you’re intruding in people’s day – they didn’t come out looking for art – so you need to give them something pleasing and maybe a little adrenaline or serotonin rush. There’s value in art for art’s sake and in it carrying a needed message, but with art like this, why not something positive?”
Teller’s website is at steventellerarts.com where there are examples of his work, links to his work on social media, information on murals and commissions and on the availability of the Gregg Allman portraits.
The H&H’s site is handhsoulfood.com.
As far as other weekend entertainment possibilities, The Macon Film Guild is presenting Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” at the Douglass at 2, 5, and 7:30 p.m. It stars Bill Murray, has an all-star cast, and admission is $5. Note the 2 p.m. show will feature closed captioning and a discussion following the film. Masks are required at the Douglas.
Otherwise – it’s January’s First Friday today with new shows at galleries, entertainment at venues, and great food and treats all over downtown.
Note the book signing featuring Alan Walden set for Gallery West this evening has been canceled and will likely be rescheduled.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 12:00 AM.