Georgia Music Hall of Fame’s 37th Annual Awards Show was held in the Georgia Ballroom of the Georgia World Congress Center in in Downtown Atlanta on September 26, 2015. The 2015 select group celebrated their induction at an impressive ceremony that celebrated all those years of impressive contributions the world of music. Posthumously honored inductees included Tim Wilson, Philip Walden Jr., and Sonny Limbaugh.
The event was, as usual, organized by Friends of Georgia Music Festival Inc. and Dr. Bobbie Bailey, president of the organization, expressed his gratitude and excitement to be able to continue to recognize Georgia’s excellent contributions to music industry across the world, just like they have done for the past 37 years.
Let’s take a look at the 2015 inductees:
Songwriter Award: Gregg Allman – The flaxen-haired frontman and founding member of the world-famous Allman Brothers Band. Gregg is a multi-award winning American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, rock & blues guitarist, and he has been a Georgia resident for a long time and Gregg is also a well-respected solo performer. Gregg’s album ‘Low Country Blues’ (2011) received a Grammy Award nomination, and his solo album ‘Gregg Allman Live: Back to Macon’ was released in August 2015.
Pioneer Award: John & Jane Barbe – Jane (born in 1928) was an American voice actress and singer aka ‘Time Lady’ who passed away in 2003. She was a very familiar voice to millions as she recorded numerous telephone-company messages and voice mail systems all across the nation, and she was a great voice talent. John, her husband, is a renowned composer, jingle producer, and musician. He is famed for writing the most beautiful arrangements for orchestras and bands.
Group Award: Drivin N Cryin – 2015 marked this Atlanta-based Hard Rock/Southern Rock band’s 30th anniversary. Drivin N Cryin recorded their debut album (Scarred But Smarter) for the local Atlanta-based 688 Records label and performed frequently at the now-defunct alt-punk club on Spring Street 688 Club. The band’s latest recording (titled ‘Songs for the Turntable’) was released in early 2014.
Non-Performer Award: John Huie – Grammy Award-winning music producer John Huie is a native of Macon, Georgia, and he is also a well-known and successful talent discovering and booking agent at the agency Creative Artists.
Performer Award: Sam Moore – The world-famed American R&B and Soul singer/songwriter and heralded ‘Soul Man’ is best known for his role as lead vocalist in Sam & Dave, the award-winning and internationally successful 1960’s duo that scored so many hits. Sam Moore was born in Macon County and on October, 2015, he was celebrating his 80th birthday!
Chairman’s Award: Monica Pearson – Monica is always recognized for her lovely big smile and her even bigger heart. She retired from a highly-lauded career of 37 years at WSB-TV in 2012, and Monica Pearson is also a very gifted and talented gospel singer. Monica is a celebrated Vocalist, Television & Radio Personality, Advocate & Spokesperson, aka ‘Georgia Media Royalty’.
Posthumous Award: Philip Walden Jr. – Attorney Philip Walden was the son of Phil Walden, the late co-founder of Capricorn Records. Philip
was killed in a tragic 2011 accident, but he had continuously played an important role in reviving epic Capricorn Records in Nashville, Tennessee. Philip Walden was a very athletic man who was working on Turner Broadcasting’s Music Group’s legal team.
Posthumous Award: Tim Wilson – When Tim Wilson died in 2014, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter called Tim one of the best, funniest, and smartest stand-up comedians’ he ever saw, and a ‘wicked singer and songwriter.’ Tim Wilson was a famed country-stand-up musician who was born in Columbus, Georgia, and he performed regularly at the intimate Punchline comedy club on Roswell Road in Atlanta.
Posthumous Award: Sonny Limbaugh – Sonny Limbaugh’s best known and recognizable work is probably Bertie Higgins’ lite rock staple ‘Key Largo’ that he co-wrote and co-produced in 1981. The career of Atlanta native Sonny Limbaugh, however, was touching all sorts of genres, and also well-known is the Cissy Houston version of ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ which he produced. Sonny was a well-respected record producer, a gifted songwriter, and continues to be an Atlanta music legend.
Georgia Music Hall of Fame’s 37th Annual Awards Show was broadcast live on Georgia Public Broadcasting. More about Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductees can be found here.