hr1424.html

06 LC 25 4380

House Resolution 1424

By: Representatives Lucas of the 139th, Randall of the 138th, Ehrhart of the 36th, Porter of the 143rd, Benfield of the 85th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring legendary impresario Phil Walden of Macon; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, impresario, music pioneer, and savvy businessman Phil Walden has nurtured and given voice to hundreds of musicians who have contributed to shaping Americás music history, from Southern rock to rhythm and blues to alternative rock; and

WHEREAS, born in Greenville, South Carolina, on January 11, 1940, the second of three sons to Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Walden, Phil Walden came to Macon, Georgia, at the age of three, planting his roots deep in this statés red clay; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Lanier High School in 1958, Phil Walden enrolled at Mercer University, and while a student, the charismatic and determined teen began his legendary career in the music industry by booking emerging bands for fraternity parties around Georgia; and

WHEREAS, in 1960, he opened the Phil Walden Artists and Promotions agency on Mulberry Street in Macon, signing on a young Georgia artist named Otis Redding, who later had one of the defining songs of the era, "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay"; and

WHEREAS, a 1962 graduate of Mercer University, Phil Walden served his country with honor, completing a tour of duty with the Adjutant General Corp of the United States Army, where he rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant; and

WHEREAS, over more than four decades, Phil Walden, through his Georgia based recording companies Capricorn Records and Velocette Records, has represented and produced some of the hottest musical talent of the times, including renowned hit-makers Sam and Dave, Percy Sledge, the Allman Brothers Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, the Dixie Dregs, Wet Willie, Widespread Panic, Cake, and 311, establishing Georgia as a haven for Southern music that draws both musicians and music fans from around the world to Macon and Atlanta; and

WHEREAS, through his friendships with and promotion of artists of diverse races, Phil Walden broke down racial barriers during a time of segregation, allowing music to become a common ground for understanding and relationship building that has spanned generations of music fans, for which he was recognized with the 1977 Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Award and the 1978 American Jewish Committee Human Relations Award; and

WHEREAS, in addition to music, Phil Walden managed the careers of individuals who have left their mark on television and film history, including comic actor Jim Varney, best known for his character Ernest P. Worrell, and a then unknown actor and screenwriter named Billy Bob Thornton, who would later be recognized for his award-winning work in the film "Slingblade"; and

WHEREAS, Phil Walden has been a dedicated citizen, providing leadership and support to civic causes for the betterment of life in Macon and Georgia, including having served as campaign chairman of the Macon Muscular Dystrophy Association, chairman of the Macon Heritage Foundation, member of the In-Town Macon Neighborhood Association, board member of the Brandywine Conservancy, and trustee of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the Atlanta Preservation Center; and

WHEREAS, valuing family and relationships, Phil Walden and his wife, Peggy, have been married for more than 35 years, and his children Philip, Jr., (a double graduate of Mercer University) and Amantha both work with their father in his company Velocette Records; and

WHEREAS, with his lifelong passion for music, his uncanny ability to recognize talent, and his gift for promotion, Phil Walden has made an indelible mark on music history and has been a true son of the South in preserving the notes and voices of some of Georgiás best artists, which led to him being inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and to being named one of the "100 Georgians to Shape the 20th Century" by Georgia Trend magazine in 2000.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body honor Phil Walden and commend him for his outstanding achievements in the music industry and his many contributions to the welfare of this state and nation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to Phil Walden and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.