Jefferson Michael "Fuzzy" Cawthon

In a bar, a bar was born. That bar grew into Fuzzy's Place, where owner "Fuzzy" Cawthon served up a blend of fun, food and music for nearly 30 years.

"It's one of the last local watering holes left in Atlanta owned by a local guy," said Brad Johnson of Atlanta. "It draws a cast of characters because Fuzzy was a character."

Business people crowd Fuzzy's Place at lunch for a menu developed by legendary chef Joe Dale. By happy hour, there is a mix of people in the bar. Seven nights a week when the live music begins about 8 p.m., the crowd is younger.

The atmosphere is low-key and the decor is unpretentious. The music room has a garish classic Chevrolet mural behind the stage, which showcases jazz singer Francine Reed with Java Monkey or the Breeze Kings with Tommy Brown or, every Wednesday night, Mike Veal.

That's just the way Mr. Cawthon wanted it.

"He was very much a character, a free spirit," said his brother, Chris Cawthon of Grayson. "He wanted a place to hang out with friends and have a cocktail and draw a paycheck."

The memorial service for Jefferson Michael "Fuzzy" Cawthon, 56, of Atlanta is at 11 a.m. today at Fuzzy's Place, 2015 N. Druid Hills Road. He died of a heart attack Oct. 24 at the Decatur residence of his mother, Martha Jo Cawthon. The body was cremated. Wages & Sons Funeral Home, Stone Mountain, was in charge of arrangements.

In the 1970s, Mr. Cawthon and his friends gathered at Alexander's Eagle on Buford Highway. Chatting with bartender Jerry Rooks, they decided to open a bar of their own in 1977.

By 1983, Mr. Cawthon was sole owner, with Mr. Rooks as bartender and some regulars running a bar tab of $1,000 a month.

"You could walk in there one time, and Fuzzy would introduce himself and you could order, say, a Jack and Coke. You could walk in a year later, and Fuzzy would remember your name and what you drink," said Harold Kelly of Dunwoody.

Music made the club. "It's just one of those small rooms that is a little musical taste of heaven," said Steve McRay of Dunwoody, Java Monkey keyboardist and vocalist.

"Oh, my God. The name Fuzzy's has been so instrumental in my career," said Ms. Reed, of Atlanta. "So many people have seen me there. He gave me a lot of work when I didn't have a lot of work."

"Fuzzy's is like Cheers in Atlanta to me. You see the same people sitting at the same spot at the bar. And the food is good. I like to eat. That was part of my pay, good food and a little pay."

Musicians drop by just to sit in the audience. Clint Black asked Mr. Cawthon to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for his crew when they were in Atlanta, Mr. Rooks said.

Fuzzy the man and Fuzzy's the bar were known around the world.

"I was in Paris and a man said, 'Hey, I've seen you in Fuzzy's,'–" Mr. McRay said.

There are no other immediate survivors.