Seven years ago, I stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, a group I’ve played drums & percussion with for over twenty years. The origins of the Atlanta Pops date back to 1945, when WSB Music Director Albert Coleman brought his WSB Symphonette to Emory University’s Glenn Memorial Auditorium for his first “Pop Concert,” portions which were aired live on WSB Radio. Coleman led the orchestra for 55 years, collaborating with artists such as Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Ray Charles, Chet Atkins, and many more, before retiring in the late 1990s. Around this time, the Atlanta Pops was designated a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to provide orchestra performances to underserved communities. In recent years we’ve traveled to venues throughout the southeast and midwest, and we’ve have the good fortune to collaborate with award winning artists from a variety of musical genres, including folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov, African music icon Angélique Kidjo, hip-hop artists Nas, T.I., Rick Ross, Jadakiss, and Gucci Mane, bluegrass group Balsam Range, Broadway singers Mandy Gonzalez and Sutton Foster, gospel singer Yolanda Adams, and many more. I am not sure where the next 80 years will take the Atlanta Pops, but my hope is that these meaningful live musical moments continue for a very long time.
In addition to my work with the Atlanta Pops, I am keeping busy with a number of other musical projects. I plan to hit the road this spring with Allgood for a few shows to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their debut album Ride The Bee, I’ve got a few shows with my H.O.R.D.E. Festival tribute group, I have a date at Eddie’s Attic with Kristin Markiton to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Wandering Moon album I co-produced for her with Kirstian Bush back in 2005, and I’ll be appearing behind my collection of Ludwig and Musser gear in an upcoming episode of the ABC series Will Trent.
Photos by Kendall Rock: Gregory Alan Isakov with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra – March 24, 2025, Atlanta Symphony Hall