How does one

get into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame? Practice and keep on playing.

The Stony Gap

Bluegrass Band, made up of residents of Coweta and Clayton counties, has

been playing bluegrass music and gospel since 1969. Founded by Sam O'Neill

and Lamar Sampson, the band has played up and down the East Coast, recorded

several CDs and in November 2001 made the Georgia Music Hall of Fame,

along with country singer and Newnan resident Alan Jackson.

"We don't

know who nominated us," said O'Neill, owner of Papa JuJu's in Sharpsburg.

"But we're glad to be there."

The band consists

of O'Neill and Sampson, the original members, and Mike McIntyre and Eliott

Hall, relative newcomers who have been with the band for seven years.

The band features a banjo, a guitar, a bass and a mandolin and all of

the members are extremely talented on many of the instruments.

Interest continues

to grow in the band as they play a number of bluegrass festivals each

year. They have played at Sams Auditorium and at O'Neill's business during

the Old Town Sharpsburg Festival.

"We'll

start playing again toward the end of February," said O'Neill. "We'll

be playing at the Williamson Music barn in Williamson, Ga. and then we'll

play Papa Juju's again Saturday, March 16."

The band has

two bluegrass CDs and a gospel CD available for purchase. Band members

have written nine original songs and play a number of traditional bluegrass

favorites. To order one or all of their CDs, phone Teresa Sampson at 770-707-2842.

The Georgia

Music Hall of Fame is at 200 MLK Jr. Drive in Macon. It is open 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults,

$6 for college students and those over 60, $3.50 for children 4-16 and

free for children under 4. Phone 1-888-GA-Rocks.

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