Jimmy Buffett Should Step In to Save Historic Country Music Landmark
Many traditional country music fans know about country music’s “Big Bang” that happened in Bristol, Tennessee in 1927. Referred to historically as The Bristol Sessions, this is when record producer Ralph Peer set up shop in town with a portable recording machine and made the first known recordings of iconic artists such as The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers—recordings which would go on to set the foundations for the country music genre as we know it today.
But only a select few know about what some refer to as country music’s “Big Pop,” which was also the fault of recording engineer Ralph Peer, but occurred four years before in Atlanta, GA. At 152 Nassau Street across from Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta sits a humble brick building which once housed the very first commercial recordings of country music. Ralph Peer captured famous Atlanta resident Fiddlin’ John Carson playing his songs “Little Log Cabin in the Lane” and “The Old Hen Cackled” in the space on June 19, 1923, expecting the obscure recordings to perhaps sell 500 copies or so. Working for Okeh Records at the time, Peer didn’t even like Fiddlin’ Joe’s music, calling it “pluperfect awful.” But those 500 copies would be sold out by the next month, and after further pressings, the Okeh Records recording would sell over half a million copies. Country music had its first hit record, and recording star.
Now the building at 152 Nassau Street is set for demolition in a matter of days, if not hours. Just this week, crews were inside the brick structure gutting it of wiring and other fixtures, despite headlong efforts by local residents and country music fans across the globe to save the historic landmark. A local architect and downtown resident named Kyle Kessler has been the leader of a campaign to preserve the building since 2017 and have the location designated as historic. However in a so-called “golden ticket” deal with developers, the city circumvented the historic designation process to stave off a potential lawsuit with the developers by reneging on their side of the deal. The city said they would allow the demolition of the historic building and development of the property to go through, but only if developers agreed to built a hotel that stood at least 10 stories tall, and cost at least $100 million as part of the development. The developers agreed.
The new tenants at 152 Nassau Street in Atlanta will also have a tie-in to country music. In 1977, Jimmy Buffett—who started his career as a country songwriter—recorded and released his signature song “Margaritaville,” inspired by a drink he was served while living in Austin, TX, later writing the song while in Key West, Florida. The song was a success across genres, hitting #13 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Now the song title has become the name of a popular restaurant chain owned and franchised by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Holdings LLC, which is a subsidiary of Cheeseburger Holding Company, LLC.
Strand Capital Group is the firm managing the Atlanta development project, and is planning to erect a 21-story Margaritaville-themed hotel, timeshare rental, and restaurant on the property. At times during the planning, there was talk of trying to incorporate the historic building into the new development somehow, but developers later said that would not be possible. The new development would not go in right on top of where the historic building exists presently. It would simply be the location for dumpsters and grease traps to service the Margaritaville restaurant.
At this point, all legal and political efforts to save the building have been virtually exhausted. A Change.org petition circulating and preservationist Kyle Kessler playing records outside the building on a 1923 Victrola have caused some attention to the situation, but not enough to make the wheels of progress slow. Ralph Peer also recorded several black jazz, blues and gospel artists in the building, including Eddie Heywood Sr., Fannie May Goosby, and the Morehouse College Quartet. The building has been occupied by other business over the years as well, and most recently housed a law firm. “This is about being a voice for a building that can’t speak for itself and telling the tales of the folks who made it historic,” Kyle Kessler told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Though time is running out, the situation is not impossible. Country fans should recall the 11th hour stay of execution for the historic Studio A in 2014 on Music Row in Nashville in when it appeared all hope was lost, and it was mere days from demolition. Then a team of investors came together to purchase the property from the would-be developers. If such a sale would even be possible in the case of the Atlanta building is a big question, since the developers have a standing agreement with the city to build a hotel in that location. This is also not an “all or nothing” situation. If developers could be pressured into figuring out a way to preserve that specific structure or incorporate it into the new development, it could be a win-win.
But arguably the most important man in the deal so far has been mum, and that’s Mr. Margaritaville himself. Though numerous news outlets have reached out to both Jimmy Buffett and the site developers about the situation, they have refused to comment. It was the success of Fiddlin’ Joe Carson’s first record recorded at 152 Nassau Street that proved the commercial viability of country music, which in part went on to help artists like Jimmy Buffett find support for their careers.
Right now there are over 35 locations of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville restaurant in operation, over 20 retail outlets, 4 Margaritaville-themed hotels, 4 Margaritaville-themed casino resorts, 2 vacation clubs, and the Latitude Margaritaville Retirement Village located in Daytona Beach, FL with a master plan to include over 6,900 homes when completed. But there is only one building where the very first country music recordings were ever made, along with other historic recordings important to Atlanta’s thriving African American music community.
It’s not that the next Margaritaville location shouldn’t come to Atlanta, or even be included in the current proposed location. But to erase that history to put up just another Margaritaville-themed hotel and restaurant seems shortsighted. Worried preservationists can parrot their concerns all day, but the King of the Parrotheads may be the only one left who has the audience and authority to step in and help preserve this historic landmark by bringing attention to the significance of the building sitting at 152 Nassau Street in Atlanta, and saving this important piece of country music history.
July 31, 2019 @ 9:34 am
Interesting story and while I would like to see the place saved, I’d imagine that’s very unlikely because $$ talks.
August 1, 2019 @ 6:40 pm
Damn I love Buffett , country and , history. Both in GA and still live here., don’t rely on folks in Atlanta to do what’s right. Hopefully Buffett will
July 31, 2019 @ 9:47 am
Jimmy Buffett would do anything for a buck. He’d probably kick his mother out of her house if he thought it looked like a Walmart waiting to happen. He’s not down Duval Street hanging out in bars.
July 31, 2019 @ 10:03 am
Jimmy is probably laying low hoping Jeffrey Epstein keeps his mouth shut.
July 31, 2019 @ 10:10 am
I threw away Jimmy Buffett a few years ago when he went on the news hawking his new Gulf Coast location saying the Deepwater Horizon oil spill had no effect on the coastal area where his new resort was opening. Anything for a buck. Shame on you Jimmy Buffett – how much money do you need?
July 31, 2019 @ 11:15 am
Yeah, I’ve been following this story too. As a country music fan I’m bummed out about it, as a guy who likes historical buildings I’m bummed, but the practical side of me says, hey, how many actual people have even heard of Fiddlin John Carson or even care. Besides us SCM regulars and a handful of dorky, 78 rpm record geeks who salivate over the smell of musty lacquer and molding labels, seriously, who would visit it if it were a museum? If Hank Williams had made his first record there, ok that would hold a little more interest to the public. But the city and developers want that $$$.
Look at another building that’s abandoned and likely to be torn down, Starday Studio in Nashville, where George Jones, Red Sovine, Stringbean, The Willis Brothers, Minnie Pearl, Joe Maphis and yes James Brown all recorded. It’s probably gonna get the wrecking ball as the current owner Moe Lytle has let it sit for a couple decades rotting away.There is an outcry among some, but no one is gonna come up with any money or a grand business idea for saving it. It would cost a fortune to renovate, and could it be popular enough of a draw to ever recoup the costs if it did become a museum? Questionable. And that is the sad reality. Wish I had a better answer.
July 31, 2019 @ 1:47 pm
Unfortunately, you’re right. I am a huge supporter of historical preservation and architectural preservation and of preserving country music, but unfortunately every building can’t be saved. It would be great if they could move the building to a very near-by location at the least. Here’s hoping for a miracle.
And I was unaware of Starday’s fate. I had assumed it closed up and was destroyed a long time ago. Roger Miller recorded there as well. Hopefully it all gets saved.
July 31, 2019 @ 3:02 pm
Duke, your a like-minded soul. I recently did a magazine article on Ray Bensons Asleep at The Wheel Texas Dance Hall Tour. It’s a pretty cool fundraiser for The Texas Dance Hall Preservation Society who exist to renovate and save Dance Halls in Texas from extinction. My article tslks about the history of these halls, why their culturally significant, and describes what Ray and othet Texas musicians are doing for the cause, as well as a review on the 2018 event. Email me at. Kds10171@gmail.com and I can send you a copy.
July 31, 2019 @ 4:51 pm
Kevin I emailed you. I’m a member of Texas Dancehall Preservation and went on the 2nd tour, I HIGHLY recommend joining
https://texasdancehall.org/
Most of these dancehalls were built around the turn of the century by European immigrants and show some of the best woodwork you can imagine (Anhalt Hall, Cat Spring Agricultural Society, Bellville Turnverein)
I’ve visited over 100 halls all over South and East Central Texas (work is traveling to oilfield towns), some are near no return, New Bern Helvetia Lodge Hall near Taylor half collapsed within the last few years… Probably at least 5-10 lost in the last 20 years we know of… some are in a state of complete disrepair, others are on the way, many restored and having regular dances, and MANY on a comeback just need a little more love. Everyone knows Gruene and Schroeder, but there are so many historic halls all over Texas, and almost all will need help someday. So find one near you and lend a hand, it will take an incredible effort to preserve these. Once they are lost, they are gone for good. So thank you Kevin (and Trigger as always) for bringing this topic up, can’t think of a much better place.
July 31, 2019 @ 1:32 pm
It was rumored years ago that when the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville was thought to be closing, he was in talks to take over that property, don’t think anything ever came of it though. I would think there are a lot nicer, better places in Atlanta to build.
August 1, 2019 @ 5:57 am
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) – a non-profit organization based in Nashville, of course – bought the Bluebird Cafe from Amy Kurland, the original owner, in 2007.
August 1, 2019 @ 5:23 am
The Georgia Music Hall of Fame is without a location. The prior location in Macon didn’t draw enough people to be sustainable. The Nassau Street location offers both a building with historic ties to Georgia music, and country music in particular, while being in the heart of business, education, tourist, and convention areas. The College Football Hall of Fame and the Georgia Aquarium are near. If memory serves, venues like The Tabernacle and The Fox Theatre are not too far away.
If that space becomes a Margarita-villa themed hotel, I won’t spend any time or money there. I live in GA but sometimes spend hotel nights in Atlanta for work conferences and meetings. In fact, I was a presenter at a conference of several thousand attendees from all across the US in that exact area there last year.
I, and many others, would be more likely to be paying visitors tothe space is incorporated into the Margaritaville development as a Georgia Music Hall of Fame, with some of the types of spaces like we see at the CMHoF in Nashville (albeit on a smaller scale). Some of the coolest music experiences I have had were in the little Ford Theatre at the CMHoF. In between events, I toured the gift shop and had lunch at a little bistro on site. A few days later, I toured the entire museum and enjoyed it so much that I bought an annual membership for my family, even though we live 5 hours away.
But, grease traps and dumpsters… sure… go with that. Tear down an existing structure and use it for trash and grease, instead of adding to it and enhancing its value, and finding somewhere else to incorporate the necessary trash dumpsters and grease traps. Brilliant! /s
August 1, 2019 @ 7:26 am
Good thoughts TBilly. I will say one cool thing that’s happening in Macon right now, is they are gonna reopen the Capricorn records studio, as not only a museum, but a work space for musicians.I think this is definitely a win for historical buildings and music, and for that matter, Georgia history.
August 1, 2019 @ 6:21 pm
Jimmy Buffett was my favorite singer for decades
Actually, him and DAC
But he has long since given up the pretense of being a songwriter
He is a businessman
Oldtimers in Key West can’t stand him
I still listen to some of his old music, but he’s a greedy jerk
I’m done with him
So don’t expect him to compromise
August 2, 2019 @ 11:36 am
I just scanned the news, looking for a happy update, but sadly, the building is still set for demolition.
I’m hoping for the best but anticipating the worst.