Macon was also home to James Braxton Bragg, affectionately known as Brax.  In July of 1999, he was on the brink of something big. After being published twice in the Mercer University literary review, Brax gleaned his lyrical poetry and set out to be the next Bob Dylan. Many nights of paying his dues while singing across the Southeast soon paid off for him. Brax quickly went from a one-man minstrel to recording a CD with his new band. Shows were booked, and Brax left for a short vacation before setting out on the road.

All this was tragically cut short by a car accident on July 3, 1999 which claimed his life as well as the life of his younger brother Tate, an accomplished classical guitarist. 

Bragg Jam celebrates Macon’s musical heritage with a two-day music festival. It began as an indebted response to the deaths of Brax and Tate Bragg.  Russell Walker, a friend of the family, organized a musical celebration of the brothers’ friends to honor them.  

After Kirby Griffin took the reins for two years, John Harrison expanded Bragg Jam into a city-wide music festival in 2003.  In 2005, the festival was incorporated as a non-profit with a Board of Directors. 

The goal has consistently been the same:  remember the Bragg brothers, showcase the city of Macon and its musical heritage, and raise money for the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail. The positive economic impact on the venues, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses has been greatly appreciated and is reflected in their willingness to participate year after year.

Bragg Jam is quickly becoming the premier musical event in Middle Georgia, and a reminder of what Brax Bragg will always be--an innovative wordsmith and a keen perceiver of human behavior, blessed with the ability to make it sound unique.