The first documented singing convention in Georgia was the South Georgia Singing Convention, founded by William Jackson Royal in 1875 in Irwin County.

Crossing denominational lines, teaching singing in schools and winning the respect of the communities in Southern Georgia, William Jackson Royal involved the entire region in building a strong convention. By 1912 , the Royal Singing Convention had gowned too large to be held in any of the local church building. To accommodate the people who attended, the members purchase a large canvas tent which was rotated to different host sites each year.

On August 29, 1919, a building committee was organized to act on a proposal that a suitable tabernacle be built in the town of Mystic, Georgia. Seven lots were purchased at a cost of $190. The total cost of the building construction was $ 5,279.46, and it could seat approximately 2,000 people. The singing tradition, as well as the feeling of oneness experienced as part of the annual sing, continued to attract people associated with the Convention, back to Mystic on the third Sunday of July each year. The 85th and last "Royal Singing Convention" was held in the little town of Mystic in Irwin County Georgia in July of 1977.

'Sheiby Bozeman 2013'
He founded the first known singing convention in the State of Georgia, he was instrumental in teaching shape note singing that is still used in churches of Christ today.

'Winnettee 2015'
The success of his endeavor soon gave rise around the state to numerous other local singing conventions, which were usually organized as regularly occurring countywide events. Jasper, the seat of Pickens County, for example, hosted a biannual convention that attracted hundreds of participants during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century's.

Date of Death altered after receiving Georgia Death Certificate # 31-12549