(Editor’s note: Columns often contain opinion)
It’s days like today that I miss Don Rhodes and his wealth of community knowledge.
If he were still alive, I guarantee that he would’ve written a column about attending the Dec. 14, 1979 Waylon Jennings concert at the newly-minted Augusta Richmond County Civic Center and other highlights from 45 years.
Since Don is no longer here, I’ll pick up his torch and write about my memories.
Apparently, Aerosmith was supposed to be the first show there, but according to Augusta Chronicle columnist Bill Kirby, they cancelled because Steven Tyler got sick.
Instead, 45 years ago today, Waylon performed the inaugural event.
Over the years, tons of performers played the arena which was named in honor of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown on Aug. 22, 2006, just four months before the singer’s death on Christmas Day.
Designed by internationally known architect I.M. Pei, the building not only served as a stage for singers and bands, but it served as the home of the Augusta Cutting Horse Futurity for many years as well as the Augusta Lynx hockey team. Many Richmond County High School, Augusta Technical College and Augusta University students attended commencement exercises there.
It housed many memories for generations of Augustans.
At the June 25 groundbreaking for the new arena, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson recalled attending his first concert there. He saw Parliament Funkadelic.
As for me, I saw Hall and Oates there on June 22, 1983. It was the summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school. They sang all the songs I loved except “Sara Smile,” and my friend, Charlene and I were quite disappointed.
I’ve seen Amy Grant six times in concert, but the first was with my brother, Leonard, on Aug. 26, 1985 at the civic center, as she promoted her “Unguarded” album. I remember singing along to the songs I’d spent the whole summer listening to plus the older ones that made me a fan to begin with.
That album and its black and white design with hot pink lettering changed my brothers’ life. He pursued graphic design because of it. To this day, I still love her hair and that leopard print jacket on that cover.
When Elton John came in 1999, I wrote several stories including one about people camped outside the box office waiting for tickets to go on sale. Those were the days – waiting overnight for tickets to go on sale to get a good seat.
Then I attended the Oct. 9, 1999 concert. I remember staying for several songs – leaving, filing my story and making it back to the civic center to see the end of the concert. It was a fantastic event – just Elton and the piano. We sang along on the high notes to “Crocodile Rock” because he was unable to. Oh, to have had a cell phone camera, a laptop and a hotspot back then! I wouldn’t have missed anything.
Other memories include seeing the Harlem Globetrotters, freezing at Augusta Lynx games, watching Disney on Ice,, seeing Barney and Friends when my children were 4 and 6, attending Winter Jam and the Augusta Futurity (my dad loved the Futurity) and seeing my three children receive their diplomas from John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School. In May 2016, my daughter got her associate degree from Augusta Tech, then my son received his bachelor’s degree from Augusta University two days later.
I attended the last James Brown toy giveaway in December 2023 and Glenn Hills High School’s graduation in May.
My brother shared photos with me of the demolition on Dec. 13. I posted the photo story in one Facebook group, where members posted their own memories. A few were at the Waylon Jennings concert. Others remembered going to see KISS, Van Halen and Buddy Holly’s band, The Crickets.
And as for Don Rhodes, one memorable concert he saw was by Tina Turner. It was the subject of the last column he wrote for Augusta Good News. Last week, Don’ sister, Linda, sent me the ticket stub from that concert. Thank you, Linda! And if you want to know more about that concert, you can read that story here.
Thank you, JBA for the memories.
What are some of yours?
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here
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