This is the formal flyer explaining the Kazoo Thing.

 

Thursday, September 27, 2007 6:30pm – Luther Williams Field

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.

 

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.

 

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.  

 

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 (6:30pm-7:30pm) at historic Luther Williams Field during the State  Fair.

 

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.

 

In order for Macon to succeed, the whole community will have to rally behind this fun, historical event. Everyone involved will receive a commemorative kazoo in celebration of the World Record-breaking moment, and the event is free with the purchase of a fair ticket for that day. We hope you will join us in promoting this significant occasion.  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 one-hour window

(6:30—7:30pm) on September 27th will be available in issues 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.