Alan Walden

Walden was born on May 23, 1943, to C.B. and Carolyn Walden[3] in Macon, Georgia. He graduated from Lanier High School in Macon in 1961.[4]

Walden was a sophomore at Mercer University in Macon when his older brother Phil Walden graduated from college and served in Germany as a lieutenant in the US Army. He handled the business affairs of his brother's firm, Phil Walden Artists and Promotions, until Phil Walden returned in 1965. It was during this time that the Waldens handled Otis Redding and 44 other black recording artists, breaking racial barriers. Alan Walden also helped bring Boz Scaggs to the management division in 1969.

In April 1970, Alan Walden and singer Eddie Floyd left Phil Walden's operation and started Hustlers Inc., a publishing and management company. Wanting to branch out from R&B into rock music, they auditioned numerous groups, several of whom performed for them at a Jacksonville, Fla., showcase set up by talent manager Pat Armstrong. Walden signed Lynyrd Skynyrd and brought the group to Muscle Shoals, where they recorded an extensive set of demos at both Quinvy and Muscle Shoals Sound studios (with Jimmy Johnson at the helm) that were roundly rejected by nearly every major label. Walden worked with the group until 1974, when the band struck gold with Atlanta-based producer Al Kooper, whose label, Sounds of the South, was funded by MCA Records. At that point the group took a large advance from MCA and bought out the remainder of Walden's contract (Van Zant also wrote a song about Walden, "Cry for the Bad Man"). Walden, however retained the publishing rights to the classic songs "Freebird", "Sweet Home Alabama", "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man" and others. He later sold these to MCA's publishing division for a considerable sum.

Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant had introduced Walden to up-and-coming southern-rock group Outlaws, whom he co-managed with Atlanta-based talent manager Charlie Brusco. During his tenure as co-manager, from 1974 to 1999, the Outlaws achieved three gold records and one platinum record. Walden co-published their hits "There Goes Another Love Song" and "Green Grass and High Tides."[2]

Alan Walden in 2008 with Blackbird at the signing of their management contract

After Outlaws disbanded in 1999, Walden represented southern artists Night Train and Chris Hicks before retiring to Macon. In 2003, Walden was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame for his contributions to music.[1]

Walden has two children from a previous marriage, Jessica and Georgeanna. He is currently married to model Tosha Walden and together they have one child, Christian.