Following James Brown’s musical journey – part 3

Before we continue our journey down Macon’s movie-worthy memory lane, it’s only fitting I mention the upcoming Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards ceremony happening at the Georgia World Congress Center on Sept. 26.

All roads often lead back to Macon music, and this year’s inductees are no exception. Gregg Allman, John Huie, Sam Moore and Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ all have close Macon connections.

There is also some bittersweet celebration to this year’s honorees. My late cousin Philip Walden Jr., son of Phil Walden (inducted in 1986) and nephew of my father, Alan Walden (inducted in 2003,) will be among this year’s posthumous Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees. It’s a fitting tribute, albeit one we all dearly wish we didn’t have to have.

It was Philip who discovered Widespread Panic and who ultimately revived his father’s Capricorn Records in the late 1980s. Philip later proved he had the inherited the ear to do it again and again with the label’s later roster including platinum artists Cake and 311.

Now, back to where we left off last time I wrote:

The WIBB studio wasn’t easy to find, accompanying the basement level of the Professional Building on Mulberry Street. But even though its physical presence was discreet, the waves the station was making on the airwaves certainly weren’t.

WIBB owner Tom Maxwell was breaking ground -- in the form of the first radio station in Macon to offer programming aimed at black listeners. There was also the growing number of white listeners, too, shaking their legs to the new, loose grooves that the not-yet-defined rhythm and blues was making mainstream.

Maxwell had built a stable of talent who would change music history long before they knew it. The “Three Horsemen” ruled the radio, each equipped with their trademark disc jockey styles, on-air gimmicks and passion for what they were playing on air.

Peek into the booth window of WIBB and you’d get a glimpse of legends being made -- not just with the new artists they were introducing, but with the voices of the Three Horsemen going live.

That’s Charles “Big Saul” Greene talking to James Brown, whose about to cut the song he just wrote at the actual station. Big Saul believes in this unknown singer, so much so that he’s one of the few people Brown trusts in this world -- outside of Bobby Byrd.

Leaning in is Hamp “King Bee” Swain. He also sees potential in this Brown kid. Hamp doesn’t just have the ears of a disc jockey, he’s got the artist’s acumen as well. He and his band the Hamptones were known to blow off a roof or two. He also has mutual friend in Little Richard, having performed as one of Penniman’s Upsetters.

Suddenly the “On Air” sign goes live and the studio gets loud. “Here comes SAAAAAAATELLITE Papa!” as Ray “Satellite Papa” Brown signs on with his signature, “How sweet it is!”

There is no such thing as a dull day on Mulberry Street at the WIBB radio station. And as soon as the Three Horsemen and their programs close out the night, a young James Brown is about to lay down a track -- after hours -- that changes everything.

To be continued.

Jessica Walden is a community relations consultant and co-owner of Rock Candy Tours, a Macon music history tour company. Contact her at rockcandytours@gmail.com.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Following James Brown’s musical journey – part 3 ."