Music

Invented by one of America’s Founding Fathers, this musical instrument became the center of a medical malpractice scandal.

Australian lyrebirds can imitate car horns, chainsaws ... and beautiful flute music.

Listeners to the Atlas Obscura podcsat share their stories of life-changing trips.

Charlie Fitzgerald loaned money to white folks in town to bend the rules in his favor. How long until he became a target?

Dance at Charlie’s Place wasn’t just dance; it captured the spirit of an era defined by both segregation and creativity. When white audiences arrived for the music, these moments sparked shifts that transformed Myrtle Beach and resonated far beyond its borders.

At the height of segregation when everywhere else was divided, Black and white people danced together to the biggest R&B acts of the time at Charlie’s Place.

Filling four trucks and as loud as an airplane taking off, the Wall of Sound was the largest, most sophisticated sound system ever built. It nearly destroyed the band.

Five years after the initial COVID-19 lockdown, the AO team reflects on the places that brought them joy, comfort, and connection during a difficult time.

The legendary venue is part of the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of clubs showcasing Black performers that helped launch artists like B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin.