The Soundtrack of the Square: Lafayette’s Legendary Voices
The Soundtrack of the Square: Lafayette’s Legendary Voices
In Macon County, we often say that the past hasn’t left—it’s just become part of the rhythm. If you stand on the historic Lafayette square and listen closely, you can almost hear that rhythm echoing in the soulful melodies of two global icons who called this town home.
Through the Tennessee Music Pathways program, Lafayette proudly honors two of its own: Rita Coolidge and Russell Smith. Their markers stand just a few blocks from where their journeys began, proving that some of the world’s biggest sounds started in the quietest corners of the Highland Rim.
The Delta Lady: Rita Coolidge
Long before she was a two-time Grammy winner and a global superstar, Rita Coolidge was a young girl singing in the choir of a Lafayette church where her father was the minister. Born here in 1945, Rita’s refreshingly rural upbringing provided the velvet-smooth foundation for a career that would redefine the 1970s.
Known affectionately as the “Delta Lady,” Rita’s voice became the soundtrack for a generation. From the soaring heights of (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher to her legendary work with Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton, her music carried a warmth that felt like a Tennessee sunset. Her marker on the square is a reminder that no matter how far her talent took her—from James Bond themes to international stages—her sintage spirit was forged right here in the heart of Macon County.
The Soulful Storyteller: Russell Smith
Just a short walk away, another marker honors the life of Howard Russell Smith. Born and raised on Church Street, Russell was a true Lafayette local who got his start as a teenage disc jockey at the town’s own WEEN radio station.
That small-town perspective fueled his songwriting, eventually leading him to front the Grammy-winning Amazing Rhythm Aces. If you’ve ever hummed along to the country-rock classic Third Rate Romance, you’ve heard the genius of Russell Smith. He went on to become one of Nashville’s most respected songwriters, penning #1 hits for superstars like Randy Travis. Despite the fame, Russell’s music always maintained that authentic, un-citified honesty that defines our community.
A Musical Road Trip
Visiting these markers is about more than just reading a plaque; it’s about experiencing the environment that inspired these artists. When you walk the square, browse the Macon Department Store, or grab a coffee at Gibson’s, you’re walking the same streets that Rita and Russell once did.
In Macon County, the decades may vanish, but the music never stops. We invite you to take a slow drive, roll down the windows, and discover the town that gave the world two of its most enduring voices.