Ona Watson is a legend in Birmingham’s music circles. He established Ona’s Music Room in 1997 because he felt Birmingham had a need for additional venues for musical artists. He wanted his spot to be the home of a variety of musical styles. That is where the name, Music Room came from—a place where music was welcome and embracing. Ona says it was designed to be a place for all kinds of good music—music that evokes emotion and makes people feel good.
Music has long been part of Watson’s life. The son of a minister, he began singing in the church choir at age 13. Church, street corners, it did not matter. Music was a part of Ona’s life wherever he went, whatever he did.
It was born inside him and had to get out. Whether through his own musicianship or as a proprieter of one of the best clubs this city has ever seen.
Long a fixture on 20th Street South, Ona’s Music Room began a move last spring that will see a brand new club reopen at the Pepper Place complex in the city’s Lakeview district as early as next month. It can’t come too quickly for Ona. The man misses the music
One on One
One on One.
People Talking.
We decided to get together this month with two old hands in the hospitality and entertainment business in Birmingham.
This conversation connected around the oh-so-Southern concept of hospitality. Read below for the complete transcript and video
Bill Murray never misses an opportunity to be hospitable. Just as music was imprinted on Ona Watson’s soul from an early age, so was a natural propensity for hospitality a part of Bill Murray’s makeup.
Integral Hospitality Solutions Founder, President and CEO Bill Murray is a veteran of more than twenty-five years in the hotel business. He began working as a front desk clerk and worked his way to president of a major hotel management company. Murray’s leadership skills were forged in the fires of turnarounds and new hotel openings.
Today, Murray manages hotels in Maryland, Louisiana, New Mexico, Missouri and Georgia. Here in Birmingham he is best known as the man behind the renovation of the Tutwiler Hotel.
“When we re-did the Tutwiler, one of my pet projects was to look through all of the historic photos and display in the hotel the 50 that really tell the story of Birmingham. I did not want to put any polish on them; they were real. The photo of Dr. King, Rev. Shuttlesworth, and Rev. Ralph Abernathy in 1965, that’s moving to me. One day I looked up and Rev. Shuttlesworth was standing in the lobby. That’s what makes Birmingham so special . . . so much history ”