On July 14, 1938 what today is known as "Golden Isles Live!" was formed under the management of Columbia Concert Corporation of the Columbia Broadcasting System. A concert series would present many of the county's best known artists such as Grace Moore, Lily Pons and Nina Martin, all of the Metropolitan Opera. Other types of entertainment such as dancers, string quartets, etc. would also be performing.

On November 11, 1941 the Concert Association was formally established. On December 4th George T. Rives, President of the Downing Company, Inc. was elected as President and Mrs. A N. Shelander as Vice-President. The opening season brought Pianist Edward Kilenyi who was compared to a young Franz Liszt, and Baritone Igor Gorin5, as well as a dramatic reading by Dorothy Crawford.

The concert association continued during WWII because it was determined "that in a time of war, everything that builds and strengthens morale is vital and should continue."

Visiting performers were housed at the Oglethorpe Hotel, and occasionally at The Cloister. The Oglethorpe Hotel was within easy walking distance to the theater. Dinners were held after the concerts, usually at the homes of members or at the recreation hall of Temple Beth Tefilloh.

The most popular form of entertainment were symphony orchestra. From 1958 to 1969 there were six symphony orchestra performances: the Detroit, the Memphis, the National, the Baltimore, and the New Orleans Symphony orchestras.

Student Outreach began in 2001 as a result of one of the most active members, Carolyn Mattingly, wife of Senator Mack Mattingly, death in 1997. A Memorial Fund was donated by her friends and admirers to sponsor annual Outreach Concerts for elementary and middle school students.

In 2013 the name was changed to Golden Isles Live!