The Georgia Legacy Foundation, Inc. Hosts Celebrity Birthday Extravaganza for Board President

Aug. 20, 2009 - PRLog -- On Saturday August 15th the Georgia Legacy Foundation, Inc. held their inauguration event at the Fish N’ Pig (John S. McCord, Owner ) on Lake Tobosofkee in Macon, Georgia with a birthday celebration for legendary Georgia Musician/ Historian and Georgia Legacy Foundation President Newton Collier. Over 1,000 attendees enjoyed an evening saturated with music by legendary artists as well as experiencing the fellowship between Internationally recognized music industry executives and VIP’s ranging from Government Officials and School Board Directors to the fans and supporters of music and Georgia roots musicians.

Newton Collier started playing professionally in Macon, GA at a young age with the “Pinetoppers”, the original backing band for Otis Redding. He was noticed by Sam and Dave, best known for their 1967 Grammy-winning song Soul Man, at 17 years old and began touring with the group as their second horn. In 1976, while driving down the streets of Boston, two shots were fired. A bullet entered his face, shattered his jaw and, thus, ended Collier’s career as “of one of the best R&B trumpet players of his era”. Later, Collier moved back to Macon and opened a record store. His extensive knowledge of and relationships with musicians and music industry professionals has granted him the title of The “Sideman to the Stars” and positioned him to receive recognition as a Georgia Music Legend! http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography (see Music Makers)

The Georgia Legacy Foundation, Inc. is a State recognized non-profit organization. “The Crown Prince of the Blues,” Sammy “Blue” Favers, serves as the Executive Director. The mission of the Foundation is to recognize, protect, preserve and promote Georgia’s Roots music artists and to do so with a historical, ethnical and regional perspective. The Foundation creates on-going situations of support for artists while offering enlightenment and entertainment to the public. Their goal is to acknowledge and celebrate the authentic indigenous artists of Georgia and to promote the State as an important contributing cultural center of the nation.

Event attendees included Event MC, Bob Patton (Legendary record promoter for James Brown, Prince, Georgia Legacy Foundation Advisory Board), Alan Walden (Capricorn Records, Manager/Booking Manager for Otis Redding/ Sam & Dave) Paul Brown (Past Interim Director, Georgia Music Hall of Fame), Harvey Scales (winner of the 1st Platinum Grammy for Songwriter of Disco Lady as performed by Johnnie Taylor), Rita Graham ( Former “Raylett” and the only female artist ever produced by Ray Charles), Al Jano (Hottrax Records), Tom Hudson (President, Bibb County School District 5), Robert Brown (State Senator District 26), Charlene Bowden (President & CEO CSB Management Group, GA Legacy Foundation Vice President), Eddie Kirkland (former bandleader for Otis Redding), Carl Pruett (Artist, Buckeye Band /Radio Station Manager, Georgia Legacy Foundation Advisory Board), Dan Davis (music industry/ corporate manager for Michael Jackson), Gary Montgomery (President/CEO Code Music Company) and Richard Dannenberg (Alphagraphics) http://www.myspace.com/georgialegacyfoundation.