Alan Walden, the music manager, promoter and publisher who helped launch the careers ofLynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band and Otis Redding, has died. He was 83.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Walden died Thursday, July 16, in Macon, Georgia, after spending several weeks in hospice care. His daughter Jessica Walden confirmed his death.
Walden was one of the architects of Southern rock long before the genre became a national phenomenon. Alongside his older brother Phil Walden, he helped build Capricorn Records into the label that introduced The Allman Brothers Band to a wider audience and became synonymous with Southern rock. Earlier in his career, he worked closely with soul icon Otis Redding, helping manage the singer during his breakthrough years before Redding's tragic death in 1967.
His influence stretched well beyond those legendary acts. During his decades in the music business, Walden worked with artists including Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Clarence Carter, Arthur Conley, Al Green, Etta James, Boz Scaggs and The Outlaws. He also co-founded Redwal Music, whose catalog included classics such as "Respect," "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Soul Man" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long."
After leaving Capricorn in 1970, Walden founded Hustler's Inc. and set out to find the next great Southern rock band. In a 2002 interview with Swampland, he recalled auditioning 187 groups before discovering Lynyrd Skynyrd.
"I went on a talent search for that 'special' band and auditioned 187 bands in one year and I only kept one! The 13th band I auditioned was LYNYRD SKYNYRD!!! I changed my lucky number from 5 to 13!"
Walden took the Jacksonville band to Muscle Shoals to record demos before eventually helping secure its first recording contract.
Despite the obstacles, he never stopped believing in the group.
"I am going to make Lynyrd Skynyrd happen even if it kills me!" he recalled shouting after a particularly discouraging setback.
Walden managed the band through its formative years, helping lay the groundwork for enduring classics including "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Simple Man" and "Gimme Three Steps." He later parted ways with the group in 1974 but retained enormous pride in what they had accomplished together.
Reflecting on the artist who meant the most to him, Walden reserved his highest praise for Redding.
"I began with Otis Redding who remained my favorite and accomplished more than them all put together," Walden told Swampland. "He put the 'S' and the 'O' in SOUL MUSIC. It never got any better than OTIS!"
Two years before his death, Walden reflected on his remarkable career in a video message, saying he was "very happy to be a part" of Georgia's rich musical legacy. Speaking about Redding, he called the soul icon "the best friend I had in life" and "one of the nicest human beings that walked the Earth."
Walden was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2003 in recognition of his contributions to the music industry. His impact extended far beyond the artists whose names appeared on album covers, helping shape the sound of Southern rock and soul music for generations.
Related: Last Surviving Original Member of Legendary '70s Rock Band Turns 82
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