For the past half century, bands and musicians from Athens, Georgia, have shaped what the world hears. The B-52s and R.E.M. have sold millions of records and landed top-ten pop hits. Widespread Panic and Drive-By Truckers have toured relentlessly. The Elephant 6 collective has created some of the most acclaimed indie rock of all time. Hundreds of other Athens artists fill the spaces in between—some lost and beloved, some tragically cut short, others making fresh music today.

The musician Brian Eno coined the term scenius—the collective genius that comes from a group of creative people contributing ideas and supporting one another. And there’s no better example of scenius in action than Athens.

What follows is an oral history of the music scene there, told by people who have lived it. Even they’re not sure how a midsize Georgia city known for football and frat parties became one of the most important music towns on the planet.

But they have some theories. And they definitely have some stories.

Read more at GARDENANDGUN.