Music Memories Museum shows off history, memorabilia, and more

SWAINSBORO, Ga. (WJBF) – Swainsboro is the home of the Mainstreet Market Antique Mall where you can find plenty of antiques and unique items.

Inside the mall is a museum that highlights some of the towns music history as well.

For this episode of “Your Hometown Road Trip” we stopped in to speak with Michael Bright about the Music Memories Museum and what it’s all about.

What is the Music Memories Museum?

“It’s my private collection, I was in the music industry myself for many years and I started collecting back in the 1980’s. Here you will see over 250 famous singers authentic items and personal clothing that was owned by them right here in this museum.

How did you get started in this kind of thing?

“I was a southern gospel recording artist for many years and back in the 80’s I started collecting autographs of people that I met from when I was on the road. When I met my wife, this was her home town, so she brought me here to Swainsboro, not realizing all the music history in this town. I thought what better place to have all this music history.”

Talk to me about some of the music history here in Swainsboro.

“Years ago in 1950, John Thompson opened up a radio station, and then the Nancy Auditorium, and he had the Peachtree Jamboree here, and then they had county music and rock and roll singers coming in. Then in 1957 there was a contract that said that if you sung at the Nancy Auditorium, then you also had to sing here, so hundreds of country music and rock and roll singers performed right here. Hank Williams Jr. first time every performing in front of a live studio audience was right here at 8 years old in Swainsboro.

There was so much to do and see inside of the museum, that we’d have to go back again to see it all.

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