In 1967, members of the Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy approached prominent members of the Atlanta music community about becoming members of their Chapter. At the time, the Atlanta area community included such artists as Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, Brenda Lee, Billy Joe Royal, Joe South, Tommy Roe and the Classics IV, along with the burgeoning activity of the southern rock scene of Capricorn Records.
