PIECES OF OUR PAST - FAMOUS MUSICIANS AND ACTORS WHO HAVE APPEARED IN DUBLIN AND LAURENS COUNTY, GEORGIA

Famous Actors and Musicians Who Have

Performed or Spoken

in Dublin and Laurens County.* 

OF THE NAMES LISTED BELOW, THERE ARE:

16 MEMBERS OF THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME.

15 MEMBERS OF THE GOSPEL MUSIC HALL OF FAME.

10 WITH STARS ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME.

6 MEMBERS OF THE COWBOY/WESTERN PERFORMERS HALL OF FAME. 
5 MEMBERS OF THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. 

2 ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS

2 EMMY AWARD WINNERS

1 MEMBER OF THE CIRCUS HALL OF FAME

AND A GREAT NUMBER OF GRAMMY AWARD WINNERS. 




Acuff, Roy - JL - October 15, 1941, April 20, 1942, Country, First living member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Akins, Rhett - TD -  September 27, 1997.  Country.  His son Thomas Rhett was present as a child.

Aldridge Sisters, TD - July 27, 1996, Pop, Lawrence Welk Show.

Anderson, Bill - TD - February 10, 1996, Country,  Country Music Hall of Fame.  Seven number one and thirty-six top 10 country songs.

Anderson, John - TD - January 31, 2019. Country. Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.  

Atcher, Randy and Red River Ramblers  - RT - August 10, 1940,  Country Music Radio Stars, 1940s, 1950s.

Arnold, Eddy - MT, 1950, Country, Pop. Country Music Hall of Fame. - Arnold has 147 songs on  the Billboard country charts, second only to George Jones and sold more than 85 million records.

ROY ACUFF 

BILL ANDERSON 

EDDY ARNOLD 

Barron, Blue - RT - March 9, 1939; VA - December 10, 1947; CC - December 20, 1952, NG - December 18, 1957, Swing, Pop.  Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Beatty, Clyde  - FG Glenwood Ave,. September 26, 1958, Circus king, animal trainer. Circus Hall of Fame.

Bellamy Brothers, TD - August 27, 2016, Country, Pop. Most duo nominations for a Country Music Duo award.

Berry, John - TD - Pop, Country. 2010s.

Blackwood Brothers - CO - March 27, 1953, LP - August 25, 1960, Gospel. James Blackwood was the only singer in music history to be nominated for a Grammy award for 28 consecutive years.  J.D. Sumner sang with the group in 1960.  Sumner gained popular fame as singing on Elvis Presley's gospel songs. Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  

Blake, Amanda - HS - June 20, 1980, TV Star, "Miss Kitty" Gunsmoke. Western Performers Hall of Fame. 

Borgnine, Ernest - VA. 1948, Academy Award Winning Actor,  SAG Lifetime Achievement Award.  Hollywood Walk of Fame,  National Cowboy Hall of  Fame, Emmy Award.

Brown, James  - OHS - Prom - Spring 1956, Soul, known as the "Godfather of Soul."  Seventeen No. 1 singles, R&B Charts,  Rolling Stones, #1 R and B Singer and # 7 musical artist of all time.  Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, Hollywood Hall of Fame. According to many Dublin residents, Brown frequently performed at places in Dublin.

Brown, Jim Ed - TD,  April 5, 2014,  Country, Two number one Country singles. Country Music Hall of Fame.  

Brown, Les - VA  - Late 1940s, Swing, Pop. Bandleader for 70 years.  Toured 18 times with Bob Hope USO shows.  House band leader for Steve Allen and Dean Martin.

Brown, T. Graham - TD - October 21, 1995, Three # 1 and eleven Top 10 Country Music songs.

Burnette, Smiley - LP - April 11, 1958, Western star. Cowboy Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Western Music Hall of Fame.

Amanda Blake

Ernest Borgnine

James Brown 

Clyde Beatty 

Carter, Clarence - TD - April 19, 1997, Soul, Pop,  Grammy Award for Best Soul Song, Patches, 1971.

Cash, Bobby - MT - April 10, 1964, Rock and Roll,   Member of Wayne Cochran's band, "The CC Riders"  Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Ceasar, Shirley - FT - November 8, 1979, Gospel, Winner of 12 Grammy Awards AND 18 Dove Awards, Lifetime Grammy Achievement Award,  known as "The First Lady of Gospel Music" and "The Queen of Gospel Music."  Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Chaplain, Mildred Harris - RT - March 13, 1934 (First wife of Charlie Chaplin), Actress,  Played in early Wizard of Oz movies.  Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Chesney, Kenney - TD - March 1, 1997, Country. Twenty gold or higher albums, thirty number one singles, forty top ten singles. Country Music Entertainer of the Year, 2005-2008.  

Chuck Wagon Gang -- CG - April 27, 1953, CO - March 3, 1954, DU-11-09-61, Country, Gospel. Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame.

Clower, Jerry WL - September 7, 1996, Country Comedian, recorded 27 comedy albums. Country Comic of the Year for 10 consecutive years.

Confederate Railroad - TD - November 9, 1996. Country.

Crabb, Jason - TD - June 2, 2011    DHS - April 24, 2014.  Gospel and Christian.  Voted Favorite Male Vocalist at the first annual Harmony Awards and Favorite Young Artist at the 2000 Singing news Fan Awards. 2004 Gospel Music Male Vocalist of the year.

Cochran, Wayne  - MT - April 10, 1964, Rock & Roll, Soul, Gospel, Known as the "White Knight of Soul."  Writer of "Last Kiss," which he re-recorded on Aire Records under the direction of WXLI radio's Ted Kirby in 1962 and was a Number 2 song on the Billboard charts in October, 1964.

Conlee, John, TD - February 24, 2018, Country. Eight No. 1 Country hits and 20 Top 10 Country hits.

Conley, Eugene - DHS - November 11, 1958, National opera star in the 1950s.

Cooke, Edna Gollmon - FT - 3rd Sunday November, 1955, LP August 28, 1955, Gospel singer, 1940s, 1950s.

Cooke, L.C. (Brother of Sam Cooke) OHS - May 25, 1966,  Leading Soul and Gospel Singer, founder of the Soul Stirrers

Copas, Cowboy - MT - May 18, 1948, Country. Had one #1 Country hit "Alabam" in 1960.  Was killed in the plane crash which also killed Patsy Cline.

Cornelious Brothers and Sister Rose - MS - March 16, 1991.  Soul and Pop.  Their first two songs, Treat Her Like a Lady and Too Late to Turn Back Now, rose to # 3 and # 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1971.

Shirley Caesar 

Kenny Chesney 

Jerry Clower 

Daniels, Charlie - HOG -November 21, 2003, Country,  Country Music Hall of Fame.   

Davenport, Ethel - 4H - September 22, 1955, Gospel.

Davidson, John - TD, February 7, 2011, Singer, Pop, Actor.

Davis, Danny - WL - March 14, 1974 Country Music.

Davis, Skeeter  - SB - April 26, 1963, Pop Music, Country Music. #1 hit - "Top of The World"

Day, Lazy Jim - MT - May 18, 1948. Country Comedian.

Dixie Hummingbirds - ST - February 13, 1969 - Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Douglas, Donna - SP - March, 18, 2007,  Actress, "Ellie Mae Clampett," Gospel, (Chuck Wagon Gang) and various other performances and St. Patrick's parades, grand marshal 2007, 2010.

Driscoll, Phil - DHS - January 19, 1984 (Trumpeter),  Grammy Award.

Dudley, Dave - VA- December 1965, Country music.

Charlie Daniels 

Skeeter Davis 

Donna Douglas 

Eakes, Bobbie - VA- February 12, 1983. April 1, 1983,   CC-  December 9, 1982., DM - March 17, 1990. March 15, 1991., SP - March 21, 1992.      Soap Opera Actress, Miss Georgia.

Eckler, Pop - RO - March 18, 1937, Country music.


Elias, Rosalind - February 8, 1960, DHS, Opera, Metropolitan Opera.


Ennis, Skinnay, VA - Late 1940s, Jazz, Pop.



Five Blind Boys of Alabama - OHS - June 6, 1968, Gospel, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

Fowler, Wally - CO - March 24, 1953; May 4, 1953, BR- May 26, 1953, March 3, 1954,LP - July 28, 1961, Gospel, Founder of the Oak Ridge Quartet, which became the Oak Ridge Boys.

Fox, Virgil - FBC - April 1, 1940, Premier organist in the mid 20th Century.

Fulton, Eileen - VA - Early 1970s, St. Patrick's Festival Guest.



Garber, Jan - VA Late 1940s, Swing, Pop, band leader.

Gary, John - HOG- April 8, 1989, Pop

Gatlin, Smitty - SB - August 6, 1971 - (Lead Singer of Oak Ridge Quartet.)

Gibson, Don - NG - July 7, 1962, Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

Gregory, James - TD, Multiple Times. Comedian. Known as "The Funniest Man in America."

Don Gibson 

Eileen Fulton 

James Gregory 

Happy Goodman Family, CG- September 24, 1954. AGF, March 10-16, 1954. CO, April 9, 1954, Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Harmoneers Quartet - LP - July 28, 1961, Gospel.

Harvey, Joe -  RT - December 9, 1936, Yodeling, cowboy star.  From Montrose, Ga..

Hayes, Wade - TD - March 7, 1998, Country, One # 1, Four top 10.

Hess, Jake - CA - Jan. 19, 1974, Four Grammy Awards, Gospel,
Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  individually and as a member of the Imperials.

Holbrook, Hal - CE - January 17, 1952, Actor. One Tony Award, Five Prime Time Emmy Awards (12-time nominee", Academy Award Nominee,

Howard, Randy - TD - May 22 1999, Fiddler, Guitarist, winner of more than one dozen national and world fiddling championship.
(Buried in Laurens County.)

Hoxie, Jack - FG12- September 17, 1936, Western star, appeared in more than 50 Western movies.

Hal Holbrook 

Jackson, Stonewall - NG - Dec. 30, 1961, Country.

Jam Up and Honey - JL - October 14, 1941, April 20, 1943, Country Comedians.

Jenkins, Polly -  MT - December 14, 1948, Country.

Jones, Sweet and the "Dixie Kats" - MT - December 19, 1957, Rockabilly.





King, Pee Wee - JL - April 20, 1943, Country. Country Music Hall of Fame.

King, Wayne - DHS - March 4, 1971, Easy Listening.

Kingsmen Quartet - DHS - May 1, 1965, Gospel.

Knight, Marie - CH - June 30, 1948, Gospel Singer, Native of
Dublin. Close Associate of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Pee Wee King 

Langley- Fickling, Neva Jane - MT - April 17, 1953 - Miss America.

LaRue, Lash - MT - October 16, 1950, Western Star.

Lee, Brenda - DJH - March 20, 1976, Pop, Country. Rock and Roll, Country Music Hall of Fame, Fourth selling artist of the 1960s.  Only Female in the Rock and Roll and Country Music Hall of Fame.  Two-time Grammy Winner, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  

Leavell, Chuck - DP - Musician, Rolling Stones. Nov. 2010.

Lindsey, George - TD - Actor, Andy Griffith Show.

Little Richard - CH - Rock and Roll, Soul, Gospel,  Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame. Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, BMI Icon, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lombardo, Guy - DJH - Easy Listening.  Famous for New Year's Eve performances.  Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Brenda Lee 

  

George Lindsey 

Little Richard 

Guy Lombardo 

Macon, Uncle Dave - JL - October 15, 1941, Country Western,  Country Music Hall of Fame.

Marvin, Johnny - RT -  Feb. 13, 1936, Ukulele.

May, Brother Joe - 4H - September 22, 1955 FT August 28, 1965,  Sept. 25, 1966, FT - September 10, 1967, Gospel.

Maynard, Tex - EDFG - October 14, 1948, Western actor.

McCarther, Yvonne and Yvette - FT - Nov. 30, 1972, Siamese Twin Gospel Singers.

McCoy, Tim - DJH - January 14, 1970, Western Star,  Hollywood Walk of Fame, Cowboy Hall of Fame. 

McConnell, Ed "Smilin Ed" - DHS - April 8, 1932.    Gospel Singer, Radio and TV Comedian, Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

McDowell, Ronnie - TD - January 11, 1997; November 22, 1997, Country,  Two #1 Country hits, 13 Top 10.

Mighty Clouds of Joy - AC - August 3, 1985.  Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Miller, Emmett - RT - March 12, 1938, March 2, 1940, Iconic minstrel performer who influenced the giants of early country music. Native of Macon, Ga..

Milo Twins - RT - August 30, 1941, Country music radio stars.

Minnie Pearl - JL - 194---, Country Music comedienne, Member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years.   Country Music Hall of Fame.

Mix, Tom - FG12 - September 26, 1936,  Hollywood Wall of Fame, Cowboy Hall of Fame. Western actor.

Molly Hatchet - ML- June 5, 1994,  Country Rock.

Monroe, Bill - CG - October 27, 1954 Country, Country Music Hall of Fame. National Song Writers Hall of Fame. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Monroe, Vaughn - DJH - - Swing, Easy Listening.

Morgan, George - MT -  May 1, 1953, Country.  Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Uncle Dave Macon 

Tim McCoy 

Ronnie McDowell 

Tom Mix 

Bill Monroe 

Oak Ridge Quartet - CG - April 27, 1953, CO -  May 4, 1953, CO  March 3, 1954, Country, Pop. Founders of the Oak Ridge Boys.

Oswald, Bashful Brother - JL - October 15, 1941, Country.



Parton, Stella -CA - Jan. 19, 1974 - Country.

Patkin, Max - LP - August 18, 1958 - Iconic Baseball Clown

Price, Ray - CA- May 1, 1958 - Country Western. Country Music Hall of Fame. Grammy Award. 

New Edition - EL - December 3, 1983. R&B, Pop.

Puckett, Riley and Georgia Hot Shots - RT - July 21, 1934 Country Western.

Max Patkin 

Ray Price 

Rangers Quartet - CO - May 4, 1953 County Western.

Red and Raymond - RT - February 27, 1937 Country Western.

Ritter, Tex - MT - 1940s - Country Western, Country Music Hall of Fame, Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Western Performers Hall of Fame. 

Royal, Billie Joe - TD- April 20, 1996, 1967 NG, (unknown - ML) - Pop and Rock.

Rubinoff - DHS - January 10, 1963 - Classical Musician.

Russell, Harold  - VA - January 11, 1961 -  Actor, Academy Award.  Best Years of Our Lives - Only actor to win two awards for the same role. 

Tex Ritter

Harold Russell 

Billy Joe Royal 

Sanders, Steve - DHS - May 23, 1964 - CAD - November 4, 1964 - SB - May 2, 1968 - (Member of the Oak Ridge Boys - 1987-1995)
TV Actor, late 1960s. Pop Country.

Sawyer Brown - WL - November 19, 1997, Rock, Country.

Seely, Jeannie - TD - July 27, 1996, Country.

Shepard, Jean - DJH - Jan 19, 1971 Country, Country Music Hall of Fame.  

Singletary, Darryl - TD - April 18, 1998 Country.

Sledge, Percy - TD - March 31, 2007, Negro American Legion, 1966 - Soul, Pop.

Slover, Karl - TD, SP - Munchkin Wizard of Oz, Actor - HWOF.

Snider, Mike - TD - November 11, 1995; March 13, 1997 Country.

Snow, Hank - CE - April 27, 1951 - Country, Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

Speaks, Margaret - CE - October 31, 1950 - Opera.

Speer Family- FN - July 1, 1990, November 27, 1988, June 14, 1987, PF - May 1, 1983, DX - July 21, 1961. First Family of Gospel Music, Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Stamps Baxter Quartet - Baker - May 28, 1940; CH - August 28, 1941;  LM - August 13, 1941, REN - Oct. 28, 1941, CH  Jan. 17, 1942, CH - April 28, 1942; CH- June 7, 1942; DUD - Feb. 25, 1949. Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Statesman Quartet - DX - May 9, 1950, CO - March 27, 1953, LP August 25, 1960, Gospel. Gospel Music Hall of Fame. 

Sunshine Boys - with J.D. Sumner Gospel Music Hall of Fame.  - CO - Dec. 4, 1953, DX - March 18, 1954, Gospel.

Steele, Bob - MT -  January 7, 1948, Western actor. Western Performers Hall of Fame. 

Stone, Doug - TD - Jan. 12, 2001, Country.

Summey, Tex (Cousin Jody) - JL - April 20, 1943 - Country Comedian.

Swanee Quintet - LP - August 28, 1955. OC - June 6, 1968, Gospel.

Steve Sanders - Oak Ridge Boys 

Jean Shepard 

Hank Snow 

Percy Sledge 

Doug Stone 

Karl Slover 

Talley, Kirk - TD - August 20, 1998, Gospel.

Tillis, Mel - CA- Country,  Actor, Country Music Hall of Fame.

Tharpe, Rosetta - CH - June 30, 1948, LP - September 5, 1954, FT - October 17, 1965, Sept. 25, 1966, Nov. 24, 1968, FT - April 19, 1970. Gospel. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame.

Tubb, Ernest - JL - April 20, 1943, NG - April 7, 1962, Country. Country Music Hall of Fame.

Tucker, Tommy - VA - Late 1940s, Swing.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Mel Tillis 

Ernest Tubb

Upsetters, The - (Little Richard’s Band) - OHS - May 25, 1966, Soul.



Van Dyke, Leroy - SB  - April 26, 1963, Country.

Leroy Van Dyke 

Walker, Billy - SB - April 26, 1963 Country.

Ward. Clara - FT - March 17, 1957, Gospel.

Watson, Gene - TD - January 17, 1998; Nov. 3, 2001, October 17, 2015, many others. Country.

Weems, Ted - MC- March 15, 1966, Swing.

Wells, Dawn - FP - 2000s, Actress, Gilligan’s Island.

Wells, Kitty - CA - May 1, 1958, Country. Country Music Hall of Fame. First female solo country artist to have a number 1 record.  First female country artist to sell one million records.

Wet Willie - NG - @April, 1972 - Rock.  1972 DHS Prom.

Wills, Mark - TD - November 7, 1998, Country Music Top New Male Vocalist, 1998.

Wings Over Jordan - CH- February 9, 1943, Gospel.

Billy Walker 

Gene Watson 

Dawn Wells 

Kitty Wells 

*  In 1971, Johnny Cash, June Cash, and Mother Mabel stopped into Glen Harden's convenience store in the Shamrock Shopping Center.  Regrettably they did not perform. 

ABBREVIATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS

4-H Negro 4-H Club

AC Laurens County Agricultural Center

CA City Auditorium - now Dublin City Hall

CC   Dublin Country Club

CE Central Elementary Auditorium - now Dublin City Hall

CG Cedar Grove School

CH Laurens County Courthouse 

CO Condor Gym

DHS Dublin High School Auditorium N. Calhoun St. 1952-1970

DHS Dublin High School Auditorium Hillcrest Pkwy after 2010.

DJH Dublin Junior High School Auditorium - 1970-1990

DU Dudley Gym

DX Dexter Gym

EL    East Laurens High School 

FBC First Baptist Church

FG12 12th District Fairgrounds, Telfair Street.

FGG Fairground Glenwood, Martin Luther King Dr.

FN - First Church of the Nazarene

FT Faith Temple Church of God in Christ 

HOG Heart of Georgia

HS Laurens County Humane Society 

JL Jernigan Lot - now part of Jackson Square Park

LM Lovett Methodist Church

LP Lovett Park

MC Moose Club

MS Main Street Dublin 

MT Martin Theater - 1944-1978

OHS Oconee High School

PF     Pine Forest Methodist Church

REN Rentz Gym

RT Ritz Theater 

SB Shamrock Bowl

SP Saint Patricks Events

ST   Saint Paul AME Church

TD Theater Dublin, 1995-present

VA VA Hospital Auditorium

WL West Laurens High School