The Southern Boys Band

08/27/2026

😎👍

08/25/2026

😢😔RIP Dolly

Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. The country music legend was known for songs including “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5.” She also starred in movies like ‘Steel Magnolias’ and ‘The Best Little Wh******se in Texas’.

07/17/2026

😔🙏

Alan Walden, Capricorn Records Co-Founder and Manager of Otis Redding and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Dies at 83

Most fans never knew his name, but millions know the artists and songs he helped bring to the world.

Alan Walden, the influential music manager, publisher, promoter, and Capricorn Records co-founder whose career helped shape Southern soul and Southern rock, has died at the age of 83 following a battle with cancer.

Born in Macon, Georgia, Walden entered the music business in the early 1960s and soon found himself managing a young Otis Redding along with dozens of other African American artists during a period when racial barriers remained deeply entrenched throughout the South. Alongside his brother Phil Walden and Redding, he helped establish Redwal Music in 1965, publishing classics such as "Respect," "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," and "Sweet Soul Music."

Following Redding's tragic death in 1967, Walden helped launch Capricorn Records, the label that would become synonymous with Southern rock through artists including The Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie, and others.

In 1970, Walden founded Hustler's Inc., where he famously auditioned nearly 200 bands before signing a Jacksonville group called Lynyrd Skynyrd. During his years with the band, he helped shepherd songs including "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," and "Simple Man" into the Southern rock canon. He later guided the career of The Outlaws, helping the band achieve multiple Gold and Platinum records.

Throughout a career spanning decades, Walden worked with an extraordinary roster of artists including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Percy Sledge, Johnnie Taylor, Etta James, Al Green, Albert King, Boz Scaggs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Outlaws.

In 2003, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to American music.

Alan Walden may not have stood center stage, but his influence helped define the sound of Southern music and the careers of many of its greatest artists.

He was 83.

07/15/2026

Southern Boys Band at Jam4George 2007 - Video By Tony Beazley

07/15/2026

Happy 78th Birthday, Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Artimus Pyle
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Artimus Pyle (Thomas Delmer Pyle) (July 15, 1948) is best known as the drummer who helped power Lynyrd Skynyrd during the band's most successful and influential years. Joining the group in 1974, his energetic style became an essential part of the Southern rock sound that captivated audiences around the world.
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Pyle performed on legendary albums including Nuthin' Fancy, Gimme Back My Bullets, One More from the Road, and Street Survivors. His drumming drove classics such as Saturday Night Special, Gimme Three Steps, That Smell, What's Your Name, and the unforgettable Free Bird. He also survived the tragic 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of several band members.
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Today, as he celebrates his 78th birthday, Artimus Pyle remains one of Southern rock's most recognizable drummers, admired for his resilience and his lasting contribution to Lynyrd Skynyrd's legendary legacy.

04/16/2026

04/16/2026

😎👍

It all starts TOMORROW.

Don’t miss the award-winning, family-friendly Magnolia Festival, happening April 17–18, one of Gardendale’s most beloved traditions and a long-time partner of the Chamber. With over 25,000 attendees each year, this is where our community truly comes together.

Enjoy a full lineup of family-friendly fun, including a free Kids Zone, car show, live entertainment featuring the Southern Boys with Chris Fryar of the Zac Brown Band, the crowd-favorite Pooch Parade, kids’ art classes, and so much more.

This is more than a festival. It is a celebration of everything that makes Gardendale special.

Make plans to be at there!
857 Main Street

(Gardendale Civic Center complex)