and one of the listeners on that radio station happened to be my uncle phil walden who eventually woulde a business partner and manager with otis redding. phil heard that early sound of otis that would later make him famous. that amazing soul that he was able to project. that's something that you could just feel. i mean, it was truly music you could feel. ♪ >> for whatever reason. whatever fate may have it here in macon, georgia. these two young guys, a black guy and a white guy in a segregated south were able to look at each other, shake hands and form this unbelievable partnership that would lead to the commercial success of southern soul music. the douglas theater is just a beautiful example of the rich history and architecture in macon. the theater survived through the roaring '20s and the great depression and then through the interjection of rhythm and blues. but in the '70s, it did eventually fall into disrepair. and it was closed down, and eventually questionable if it could ever open again. it was severely dilapidated. and in the late '90s, with the help of a private businessman