History of Lanierland
Lanierland Music Park had its first concert in a circus-like tent that seated 1800 people in 1970. Hank Williams Jr. was the first performer to grace the wooden stage and sing to two sell-out crowds, sitting in metal chairs on asaw dust floor. The owners were C. E. (Crant) Samples and M. L. (Shorty) Hamby. Both, Forsyth county natives, had a love for music and wanted to provide entertainment to folks living around North GA. They used local talent to open for the “stars”. The entertainers were expensive and more capital was needed, therefore,
new partners were brought on board. Brothers, Leon and Robert Jones joined the two others in 1971 and a few years later, Tommy Bagwell rounded out the ownership to five. Each year was a learning experience and that experience proved to bring on more success. Eventually the ownership would dwindle back to two, with Leon and his wife, Brenda Jones, along with Tommy and his wife, Chantal Bagwell, promoting events until the park closed. Another milestone that occurred that year was the addition of „Mama” Lois Heard as the cook to the stars at Lanierland. Merle Haggard had requested food to be served back stage and Leon, Lois‟s son in law, suggested she make a cake. It was such a hit with the stars that he encouraged her to keep cooking. Her food became so
popular with the stars that they would ask for specifics that she made. Alabama wanted the banana pudding. Conway Twitty always loved the fried chicken. The Oak Ridge Boys‟ Duane Allen would usually tip her and said she made him think of his own mother. In her last year of life, as her health declined, he called her on the phone to wish her well. Naomi Judd even wrote about her in her book, „Love Will Build a Bridge‟, where she describes life on the road and how they always looked forward to playing at Lanierland and the good home
cooking of Mama Lois. The skill and diligent attention provided by Brenda Jones completed the Lanierland experience for the artist that appeared there.
Lanierland expanded a few times and eventually seated 4,346 people and had a 100 feet wide stage. The saw dust floor remained the same and made for wonderful acoustical events in the open aired amphitheater. For 36
years they produced some of the finest shows to hit the south with every top notch entertainer in country music.
From its inception, they had celebrities like duos Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, The Judds, and George Jones and Tammy Wynette. In fact, the last concert that George and Tammy ever played on stage together was in 1997 at Lanierland. Many sellouts occurred throughout the years. The Oak Ridge Boys once had four sell-out shows during their big hit „Elvira‟ days. Alabama recorded a live album at Lanierland to six sellout shows in 1982. When the Gambler, Kenny Rogers came to town, he sold out three shows in one night as well as the Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus. Travis Tritt, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, Don Williams, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristoffersen, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Statler Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Charley Pride, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Mel Tillis and Buck Owens, along with hundreds of others country stars graced their stage. Lanierland even brought in crossover music in hosting concerts by Jimmy Buffet, The Beach Boys, America, The Little River Band, Wayne Newton, Mac Davis, The Osmonds, Ricky Nelson, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Pat and Debby Boone.
With the extension of GA Hwy. 400, a concert in the country at Lanierland was now turning into a concert just north of the big city of Atlanta. Booking agents considered Lanierland to be a part of the Atlanta market, which meant any opening act or headliner that played Atlanta, wouldn‟t typically play Lanierland, within the same calendar year. Country music became a more mainstream music and the newer acts didn‟t want to play a venue that seated almost 4400, which meant they would have to do two shows. Ticket prices had always remained so cheap at Lanierland from $15 to $25 a ticket, as well as free parking, didn‟t equal the ever demanding rising cost of talent. The once dry county of Forsyth had no alcohol sales in rural areas, like at Lanierland, but even when that rule changed, their lease agreement did not allow for alcohol to be sold and couldn‟t be used as additional revenue. So after 36 years of magical memories, Lanierland Music Park closed the gates permanently in 2006. The venue left behind a legacy of wonderful country music stories to last a life time, such as: the fight with audience members vs. Kris Kristoffersen, the wedding of one of the Judds‟ band mates on stage, the midnight softball games versus the Oak Ridge Boys on the softball field up the hill from the park, the night Kenny Rogers wanted to follow someone to get to a gas station, the hilarious moment when Sammy Kershaw was punked by the Lanierland staff along with Marty Stuart, the night Jerry Lee Lewis wouldn‟t leave the stage, or the night that Merle Haggard would not go on . . . and the list goes on and on. Thanks to all the loyal fans that showed such great patronage through the years (remember you could make pictures from the center aisle during the first three songs) and for being a part of the Lanierland family. Lanierland was nominated by the CMA association for venue of the year on two different occasions as well as being recommended for induction into the GA Music Hall of Fame. Paul Ossman did a feature story on TV about Lanierland and the Atlanta Journal and Constitution did several feature stories on Lanierland Music Park. The Oak Ridge Boys issued this comment about Lanierland, “The staff at Lanierland always treats us like family. They have a first class facility, staff and you can count on the crowds. Oh yeah . . . the best crew meals around.” Lanierland will always hold a special place in the memories of many Forsyth county citizens.
House Resolution 98 By: Representatives Murphy of the 14th, Post 2, Knox of the 14th, Post 1 and Jones of the 38th 2002
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Lanierland Music Park; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Lanierland Music Park provides Georgia citizens and visitors a grand venue for hosting public and private music concerts and performances and has developed a stellar reputation as a wonderful entertainment setting for adults and families; and WHEREAS, Lanierland Music Park is a privately owned family business that has offered incredible music events for 32 consecutive years and is located in beautiful Forsyth County; and WHEREAS, thousands of concert guests from around the world have been entertained by the greatest country, pop, and rock music performers, including George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, Loretta Lynn, Reba McEntire, The Judds, Randy Travis, Ray Charles, Tom Jones, and many others; and WHEREAS, the Jones and Bagwell families are the proud owners and operators of Lanierland Music Park who have facilitated quality music entertainment for the Forsyth County community and promoted economic growth throughout the state; and WHEREAS, Lanierland Music Park has been honored by The Cumming/Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce as a valuable contributor to the community worthy of induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that this body commends Lanierland Music Park for its outstanding success in the music entertainment field and urges the induction of this superb facility into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Lanierland Music Park and to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
