From country music history to scenic mountain views and Southern cooking, Alabama’s former tour manager shares what makes Fort Payne, Alabama, a special place to call home.
For decades, Greg Fowler traveled across the country alongside one of country music’s most successful bands, Alabama. From Madison Square Garden to the Hollywood Bowl, Fowler experienced some of the most famous venues and destinations in America. Yet, after years of traveling, one small town in Northeast Alabama remains his favorite place to call home.
Originally from South Carolina, Fowler began his career in radio broadcasting before joining Alabama’s team and eventually moving to Fort Payne in 1982. Throughout his career, he served as the band’s tour manager, helped promote their music, and even co-wrote songs with band members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. Today, he remains closely connected to the band’s legacy through his work with the Alabama Fan Club and Museum.
Although adjusting to Fort Payne’s slower pace took time, Fowler eventually found himself falling in love with the community.
“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” Fowler said.
From historic music landmarks to beautiful mountain scenery and authentic Southern cooking, Fowler shares some of his favorite places and experiences in Fort Payne and the surrounding communities.
1. Alabama Fan Club and Museum: Where the Story Begins
For anyone visiting Fort Payne for the first time, Fowler knows exactly where he would begin.
“The first place I’d take them is right to the Alabama Fan Club, into the museum,” Fowler said.
The Alabama Fan Club and Museum celebrates the band’s journey from performing for tips in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to becoming one of the most successful groups in country music history.
Inside, visitors can explore memorabilia, photographs, and awards representing decades of musical achievements, including Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards.
For Fowler, however, the museum holds something even more meaningful than the awards themselves.
“Everything in there has a memory attached to it,” he said.
Having spent years traveling with the band and helping promote their music, Fowler can tell the stories behind items that visitors might otherwise overlook.
“Every picture tells a story, and it does,” he said.
His recommendation is simple: Start at the museum to understand Alabama’s history before exploring the community that helped shape the band’s music.
2. Alabama’s Statues and Main Street: A Walk Through Music History
After visiting the museum, Fowler recommends heading downtown to explore the park featuring statues of Alabama’s band members.
“I’d take them down to the park and show them the statues down there. We could take a little stroll down Main Street,” Fowler said.
For Fowler, walking through downtown Fort Payne offers an opportunity to connect the band’s success with the small community where its story began.
He explained that many of Alabama’s most recognizable songs were inspired by real experiences, people, and places throughout Northeast Alabama.
“There’s so much in their songs that’s so real,” Fowler said.
Songs such as “Mountain Music,” “Tennessee River,” and “Pass It On Down” reflect the band’s upbringing and connection to home.
Fowler believes this authenticity helped Alabama connect with listeners across the country, even those who had never experienced life in a small Southern town.
3. The Original June Jam Site: Where a Small Town Made Music History
Photo credited to article: A Little History of the June Jam Before the Return
By Emma Goggans
Another stop on Fowler’s tour would be the site of Alabama’s original June Jam music festival.
What began as a hometown concert became a major event that brought thousands of country music fans to Fort Payne.
“We had 75,000 people here in a town that has only a population of 15,000,” Fowler recalled.
The festival’s popularity presented an unusual challenge for the community: finding accommodations for the enormous number of visitors.
Fowler explained that June Jam was strategically scheduled around Nashville’s annual Fanfare event. This allowed fans already staying in Nashville to travel to Fort Payne for the concert before returning to their accommodations.
At the time, Fort Payne had only a handful of hotels, making it nearly impossible to accommodate the festival’s crowds locally.
Today, Fowler enjoys showing visitors where the original festival took place and explaining how Alabama’s success helped put Fort Payne on the map.
He also recommends visiting the community’s recreation center and sports complex, which he connects to the band’s contributions to the area.
4. Little River Canyon and Little River Falls: Northeast Alabama’s Natural Beauty
Beyond its country music history, Fort Payne is surrounded by some of Alabama’s most beautiful natural scenery.
For visitors looking to experience the outdoors, Fowler recommends Little River Canyon and Little River Falls.
“We’d go to the falls. We’d ride up to the canyon,” he said.
The canyon offers scenic drives, dramatic overlooks, and opportunities to experience the natural landscape that makes Northeast Alabama unique.
Fowler enjoys driving through the canyon from time to time, particularly when the changing seasons bring new colors to the mountains.
For him, the area’s natural beauty is also closely connected to the stories Alabama told through its music.
A visit to the canyon gives travelers an opportunity to experience the landscape that helped inspire the band’s appreciation for home, family, and Southern traditions.
5. Greg Fowler’s Kitchen: A True Taste of Southern Hospitality
When it comes to authentic Southern cooking, Greg Fowler believes some of the best meals aren’t necessarily found at a restaurant. Instead, they’re made right at home.
For Fowler, introducing someone to Southern hospitality is less about choosing a particular restaurant and more about sharing a home-cooked meal with good company.
“I tell you what, we’ll do a crappie fish fry,” Fowler said.
He explained that fresh fish caught from nearby Weiss Lake makes for a traditional Southern meal. He also mentioned barbecue and steaks raised on Randy Owen’s Tennessee River farm as examples of the area’s homegrown food traditions.
“If you want some good fish, we’ll cook them,” he said.
Rather than naming one restaurant as the must-visit destination, Fowler believes the best meal depends on what someone is craving. Whether it’s freshly caught fish, barbecue, or locally raised beef, he appreciates the variety of Southern food available throughout the community.
For Fowler, authentic Southern hospitality isn’t defined by a restaurant’s reputation. It’s about the people, traditions, and memories that come together around a good meal.
6. The Historic DeKalb Theatre: A Local Landmark With an Alabama Connection
Another important landmark in Fowler’s story is the historic DeKalb Theatre.
The theater has hosted performances and events throughout its history and remains connected to Fort Payne’s musical heritage.
Fowler explained that he personally wrote a historical summary of Alabama’s career and accomplishments for a presentation displayed at the theater.
The presentation highlights the band’s early beginnings, their determination to succeed, and their extraordinary accomplishments in country music.
According to Fowler, Alabama has received more than 200 industry awards throughout its career, including Grammy Awards and numerous Entertainer of the Year honors.
But he emphasized that the band never set out simply to collect awards.
“The awards came. The work is what brought the awards into play,” Fowler said.
For visitors interested in the band’s history, the DeKalb Theatre offers another opportunity to discover how Fort Payne’s musical legacy extends beyond the museum.
7. Lookout Mountain and Mentone: The Beauty of Staying Close to Home
After spending decades traveling across the country, Fowler has developed a special appreciation for the peaceful scenery surrounding his home.
When asked where he likes to go to relax, his answer was surprisingly simple.
“I’m out right here in my backyard,” Fowler said.
From his property near the edge of Fort Payne, he enjoys looking toward Lookout Mountain, especially during the fall when the leaves begin changing colors.
During the interview, Fowler described sitting outside with his black Labrador retriever, enjoying the view of the mountains.
“Here you don’t really have to go anywhere. All you gotta do is look out your window,” he said. “We’re living in it.”
Fowler also encouraged visitors to explore the surrounding DeKalb County area, including nearby Mentone, known for its mountain scenery and peaceful atmosphere.
Although he grew up in South Carolina and still feels connected to his home state, Fowler explained that Northeast Alabama offers a completely different landscape and lifestyle that he has come to love.
For him, the beauty of Fort Payne isn’t limited to one attraction. It is something residents experience every day.
A Place Worth Calling Home
From historic music landmarks to Southern cooking and scenic mountain views, Greg Fowler’s favorite places reveal what makes Fort Payne more than just the hometown of Alabama.
His career has taken him to nearly every corner of the country, including some of the nation’s largest cities and most famous concert venues. But those experiences have only strengthened his appreciation for the community he calls home.
“Alabama went to South Carolina to put a stamp on their career, their brand to get started, and I came to Fort Payne, Alabama, to put a stamp on mine,” he said.
After more than four decades in Fort Payne, Fowler believes there is something special about returning to a quieter way of life.
Whether it’s visiting the Alabama Museum, exploring Little River Canyon, enjoying a homemade fish fry, or simply looking out at Lookout Mountain, Fowler’s recommendations show that some of the best experiences are found close to home.
And for someone who has traveled as much as Fowler, that says a lot.
Explore Greg Fowler’s Songwriting
Discover songs credited to Greg Fowler on Genius.
View Greg Fowler’s Songs on Genius
Photo Credited to Greg Fowler
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