As the Song & Soul of the South, and home of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Macon has good reason to be proud of its musical heritage. From Little Richard to Otis Redding to the Allman Brothers to Jason Aldean and even through our new baseball team, the Macon Music, we have celebrated our diverse musical roots. But one detail has slipped past us and we want to correct that at this year’s Georgia STATE FAIR in Macon’s historic Central City Park inside historic Luther Williams Field.

The kazoo. It’s a simple enough instrument—everyone has hummed on one at a birthday party or something equally festive. However, not everyone knows that the kazoo was invented in Macon, GA, by former slave Alabama Vest and unveiled to the world at the Georgia State Fair in 1852. (Its original name was the Down South Submarine.) [ More Kazoo history ]

As the birthplace of the Kazoo, it’s only fitting that Macon and the Georgia STATE FAIR should own the World Record for playing a song written by a Macon music legend in an historic ballpark that’s home of the Macon Music whose mascot is named---you guessed it----"Kazoo"!!.

On December 31, 2006, a group of 2,679 players in Rochester, NY, gathered to break the Guinness world record® for the largest kazoo ensemble. In efforts spearheaded by The 11th Hour and in cooperation with the Georgia State Fair and sponsor Bibb Music Center, Macon will attempt to break this record.

LATE BREAKING UPDATE!!
We have unofficial word that Matthews, N.C. (suburb of Charlotte) may have broken the Rochester record on Friday, August 31st at their MatthewsAlive festival. Word is that they exceeded 2700 in their preliminary totals. If so, the bar is set a little higher!! We also have word that Salem, Oregon set a new record of 2788 on August 31st. But central Georgia can top that, right? We need to set the bar as high as we can!

This year’s State Fair will take place September 25th through the 30th. Macon will attempt to break the current world record on Thursday, September 27th (6:00pm-7:30pm) at historic Luther Williams Field during the State Fair. We plan to start humming at 7:30pm, but in order to get everyone counted and in place, PLEASE COME EARLY!! Live entertainment is planned to engage the audience until we can get the entire crowd assembled and ready (Mark Brooker & the Soul Proprietors, FPD's Band, Tattnall's Band).

Our goal is to have over 3,000 participants proudly humming Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” at the culminating moment. The Kazoo Ensemble will also coincide with “Tribute to Otis Redding” month to be celebrated throughout the month of September in Macon. Otis Redding, III, is enthusiastic about the event---he will be there to help lead the "band."

Arrangements have been made to have in attendance world famous kazooist Barbara Stewart who is author of the book, "The Complete How To Kazoo." She will give the "band" a one minute instruction in order to certify for Guinness purposes that our "band" met minimum kazoo proficiency.

In order for Macon to succeed, the whole community will have to rally behind this fun, historical event. Everyone involved will receive a complimentary kazoo in celebration of the World Record-breaking moment, and the event is free with the purchase of a fair admission ticket ($3 advance; $5 at gate) for that day. We hope you will join us in promoting this significant occasion. With apologies to Shakespeare in the now famous words of Macon Telegraph columnist Ed Grisamore, ..."Lend us your lips."
[ See Ed's August 24th column ]

Proceeds from the Fair benefit local charities; since 1942 the Fair has returned over $5.3 million to the community through its owner and operator, the Exchange Club of Macon. Read more about the community benefits of the Georgia STATE FAIR. Our Fair is “Macon Fun for Local Charities!”

Special Coupons for FREE admission during this 1.5 hour window (6:00—7:30pm) on September 27th will be available in the Sep. 13th issue of The 11th Hour and at Bibb Music Center’s 317 Cotton Avenue retail location.

For more information please contact Meagan Evans (11th Hour) at 478-464-1840 or Stephanie McKleroy at the Georgia STATE FAIR office at 478-746-7184. See the Fair’s website at GeorgiaStateFair.org .