MACON, Ga. — It's no secret that Macon's musical roots run deep, and it was reflected within the lobby and dining rooms of the Ramada Hotel for years.
"G!" Gonzalez had a major role in filling the room with tunes for guests to enjoy.
Before he was performing at the Ramada, Gonzalez was a young man working at a music store.
"I'm classically trained, but I play a little bit of everything," Gonzalez said. "We would deliver pianos and things for the different hotels when they would have events...there was a man playing the piano and one of the guys said, 'You know, he plays the piano too.'"
Gonzalez says the man asked him to be a substitute for him, which soon turned into a role as one of four of the hotel's house pianists during the 80's and 90's.
From Friday night steak buffets to elaborate Sunday brunches, Gonzalez was there on the keys serenading guests dressed to the nines in gowns and tuxes.
"A number of celebrities came throughout the years ... Patti Labelle, Little Richard, Ray Charles," Gonzalez said. "[Patti] was very nice. I said, 'I just want two pictures'... So we got in an elevator and took a picture."
He was classically trained at Mercer and says his musical influence is Liberace, taking inspiration from the American pianist's trademark candelabra display.
He brought his very own to the hotel.
"I was a big fan and still am of Liberace that I would borrow his candelabra as a gimmick of sorts just to stand out a little bit from others," Gonzalez said. "They got other people who would come and sing with other piano players...it was just a very elegant time. But even now, in these days, we went to Atlanta not too long ago and went out to eat, and I noticed that there was nothing like it that was available for the public."
The hotel saw a change of names during his time there: the Hilton, the Radisson, and the Crowne Plaza.
But the music scene changed as well.
Over the years, Gonzalez says there has been less of a demand for classical entertainment nowadays.
"I miss it tremendously but I know things have to move on. Hopefully, one day somebody might get the idea to do that again," Gonzalez said. "It's an era that I'm afraid has passed away. You don't have that much of a demand for that sort of entertainment like we used to in restaurants. It was a fun experience and I wish it could continue."
Once demoed, the Ramada will be replaced with a new hotel and convention center, according to Mayor Lester Miller.
And with new doors comes new possibilities, for musicians like "G!".