Ear to the Ground: Spirit of Macon's music past makes his debut

I get goose bumps every time I take a tour around historic Riverside Cemetery during its annual Spirits in October event. It's not because the costumed characters of Macon's storied past are scary as they recount their real life tales graveside. Rather, it's because you can't get any closer to the past than actually taking a time machine.

It's up front and eerie in the best possible way. You truly are transported to an era, place and persona that helped shape the soul of our community today.

This year's stroll around the cemetery centers on "Unexpected Exits" and includes an encounter with William Frederick Black, one of the first Georgia State Troopers -- and the first patrolman killed on duty.

There is also a visit from Sarah Bull Park, a member of the all-women Nancy Harts militia who learned to defend their homes and property during the Civil War.

And the always awe-inspiring William and Ellen Craft, escaped slaves who fled Macon and made their way to England, return to us again.

But amidst the grand attire of the mid- to late-1800s and later heirs of the Victorian era, one particular spirit stood out for me the most. You couldn't mistake his scrappy, Southern rock profile. None other than Twiggs Lyndon has returned from this year's dead.

The infamous road manager -- whose career started with Little Richard, segued into Otis Redding and eventually helped define the Allman Brothers and others on the Capricorn Records label -- lived a fast, fascinating life. In fact, we often say on one of our Macon music history tours that almost all roads of Macon music lead back to Lyndon.

It was Lyndon who was trusted enough to help identify Redding's body after the plane crash. It was Lyndon who helped import long-haired hippy musicians to Macon by opening his two-room apartment on College Street to the early Allman Brothers Band. It would later be Lyndon who plead insanity on murder charges for stabbing a club owner to death. Anyone would go insane, the defense said, from being on the road with the Allman Brothers.

Finally, it was Lyndon who made one of the most mysterious, unexpected exits in rock 'n' roll. I'm not going to give away the tragic ending. His spirit is currently back on tour at Riverside Cemetery's Spirits in October to tell us more about that.

Spirits in October has a few more remaining dates with the dead. Catch Twiggs Lydon and the others while you can tonight and Sunday. Reservations are recommended, call 478-301-5470 for more information.

And a special shout-out to the actors, tour guides and other volunteers who make this annual event something truly special. As the program says, "May we always remember the role each played in making Macon the place it is today."

Here's to being haunted by our past in the best way possible.

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

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Ear to the Ground: Spirit of Macon's music past makes his debut ."