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Joe Galkin migrated with his parents and siblings from Russia to Macon, Georgia, where as a musician, he began performing with big bands, then booking them. This past-time led to an opportunity to go to New York and promote the popular Tommy Tucker Orchestra. With an eye for talent and an uncanny ability to spot trends, Galkin began to champion and promote young R&B artists that were emerging throughout the South. With his ability to get radio stations to play R&B records, Garlkin created a niche for himself as an independent promoter and he worked closely with executives at Atlantic, Stax and other labels.

In a posting to commemorate Atlantic Records’ icon Jerry Wexler’s 90th birthday in January 2007, blogger Red Kelly wrote, “One of the unsung heroes of the Atlantic saga was a guy named Joe Galkin. He worked as their southern promotion man, driving around in a constant flurry of activity from one radio station to another, bestowing gifts and pearls of wisdom amidst the clouds of cigarette smoke and banlon shirts. He called Wexler regularly with updates on what was hot and what was not down south. It was Galkin who hipped Jerry to Jim Stewart's fledgling Satellite Records label (soon to become Stax), and got them their infamous Atlantic distribution deal. It was Joe Galkin who had started a label with Otis Redding (Jotis), and was instrumental in recording “These Arms Of Mine” at the tail end of a Johnny Jenkins session at Stax. It was Galkin who handed Rick Hall the phone one day, so he could tell Jerry about ‘When A Man Loves A Woman.’ Suffice it to say that Wexler valued his opinions highly, and loved him for the character that he was.”

In writer Russell Hall’s 2004 interview with Phil Walden, a fellow Maconite who had been Otis Redding’s manager, Walden recalls when his association with Galkin. “…. He bought the first record that I was ever associated with. We had produced a little 45 by Johnny Jenkins called ‘Love Twist,’ and it became a regional hit. Joe Galkin bought that and put it on Atlantic Records and that opened an avenue to Atlantic [for me].” Galkin’s efforts and energy were behind the considerable airplay that artists including Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge and Solomon Burke enjoyed. Galkin is credited with knowing the power of “crossover” long before the term was popular and he is noted as a pioneer who facilitated black artists getting played on Top 40 radio stations. Many industry figures remember Galkin’s greeting, which was, “I got a smash for you today!”

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