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 In 1963 Alan Walden was a sophomore at Mercer University in Macon when his older brother, Phil, was sent to Germany for two years of military obligation. Alan promptly put his classes on hold to run Phil’s small talent agency until his return. At 20 years old, Alan was the freshest face in the music business.
The agency, Phil Walden Artists and Promotions represented numerous college bands as well as up-and-coming artist Otis Redding, who at the time, had a small hit with, “These Arms of Mine.” When Phil returned in 1965, Otis and Alan had “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” in the top ten of Billboard Magazine and the hit single, “Respect,” already recorded but not yet released. Alan became a full-time partner in the company which went on to represent 45 black recording artists, among them Redding, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Johnnie Taylor, Clarence Carter, Arthur Conley, Al Green, Joe Tex, ZZ Hill, Candi Staton, Albert King, William Bell, Eddie Floyd and Etta James. They soon became one of the largest black artist management companies, second, if any, to Motown Records.
In 1965 Redwal Music was incorporated with Otis, Phil and Alan as the officers. One of the first integrated staffs of its time in Georgia and the only one in Macon, Redwal published such numerous hits as, “Respect,” “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” “Sweet Soul Music,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” and “Dock of the Bay.” In the late sixties, Alan won three awards for the number one Rhythm and Blues Single of the Year in Billboard, Cashbox and Record World. Those three number ones were Percy Sledge’s, “When a Man Loves a Woman,” Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay,” and Sam and Dave’s, “Soul Man.” Dock of the Bay went on to win two Grammys in 1968 for both Pop and R&B Single of the Year. In 1999 Otis received a Grammy for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
After Otis’ untimely death in 1967, Phil, Alan and their oldest brother, Clark, founded Capricorn Records and No Exit Music making their transition into Southern Rock. Among the artists on the label were the Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker, Wet Willie, Elvin Bishop and Bonnie Bramblett.
In 1970, Alan left Capricorn to form his own management and publishing company, Hustlers Inc. The company was formed prior to the naming of Larry Flynt’s infamous magazine, and stood for “hard worker,” coining the phrase, “Let’s Hustle!” Alan auditioned 187 bands during the first year of Hustlers Inc., from which one band was chosen to record. That band was Lynyrd Skynyrd. Alan later went on to manage and publish the Outlaws, who scored three gold LPs and formed a relationship with Alan that lasted 25 years. Under Alan’s direction, Hustlers Inc. published Southern Rock classics “Freebird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “Simple Man,” “There Goes Another Love Song,” and “Green Grass and High Tides.”
Alan experienced success on the Billboard charts with “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” and “Freebird,” reaching number one status. He also received BMI citations for more than a million airplays for “Respect,” “Dock of the Bay,” “Freebird,” “Sweet Soul Music,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Alan’s artists have been awarded 55 gold certifications, and many of these artists have gone on to platinum and multi-platinum status. Over the course of his music industry career, Alan has been a Manager, Publisher, Booking Agent, Record Company President, and Promoter.
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© 2006 All Music Guide, LLC