Meet Linda Walker |

We had the good fortune of connecting with Linda Walker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Linda, every day, we talk about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have told this story so many time because it is one of those “right place, right time” events that changed the course of my life. I was working at a hotel in Miami (Reservations Manager) that had a vibrant night club with national live entertainment every week. I became friends with lots of the performers who appeared in the club. At the time I decided to move to Atlanta, I was talking to Mr. Bill Pinkney, leader of the Original Drifters who were appearing in the club at that time. Bill told me that the Drifters hadn’t performed in Atlanta in a long time and would I like to try to find them a gig or two once I got settled. He promised to write me out a telephone speech that I could use to call venues to see if they might be interested in hosting the Drifters. So….several weeks later, I was in Atlanta and gave Bill a call. He wrote out that little speech for me and knowing absolutely nothing about the business, I started making calls on his behalf. I actually secured two gigs for him!! He then told me that I should go to downtown Atlanta and get a business license because once I have the license he will pay me a commission for the two gigs. I did just that; got the license and received a nice check from Bill. That started me thinking….this was so easy and if I can book the Drifters, why not try to do it with other groups. I printed up business cards and starting passing them out every place that had live entertainment. That all happened back in the mid-80s…and I never looked back.

Fast forward to 2017….I’ve had a very successful booking agency business for many years and decided that I’d like to be a musician and actually be in a band. I took bass lessons, learned to play all my favorite tunes from the 60s and put together an all female band, the Vintage Vixens. We have been going strong now for almost 7 years performing at festivals, City events, 55+ communities and corporate events. My background as a booking agent has helped keep us together for all these years…our calendar stays pretty full !! I work with an amazing group of ladies and the Vintage Vixens band is the joy of a lifetime!! (www.Facebook.com/VVBandAtlanta

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The “art” of making music is magical. While I am still a full time booking agent, I am totally excited and uplifted for every band gig we do! To get positive feedback from our audiences and to see folks having fun because of what we are bringing them, is more than rewarding. Whenever I take a minute to reflect on where life’s path has taken me, I sometimes think I should pinch myself to be sure it’s all real.

Surprisingly, I never, in all these years, faced a lot of challenges. The transition from being someone’s employee to becoming completely self-employed worked out quite smoothly for me. The only slowdown I’ve had was during Covid (like lots of folks). But I’ve come out the other side of it and moved forward…everything is back to normal. How fortunate am I?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Whenever we have friend visiting the area, we’d have to take a day trip to the mountains…especially in the fall. There is no other place that can beat the beauty of the fall foliage in the Georgia mountains. We’d love to do a little shopping here and there at local boutiques, catch every meal at local mom and pop diners….and lots of fresh air!! The evening would be capped of by putting on our boogie shoes and catching a local band!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many who deserve credit and recognition…..first and foremost, the late, great Mr. Bill Pinkney. Without his mentorship and support, I doubt that my life would have taken this glorious path.

And…..I have been representing a most amazing band and group of folks for almost 25 years now….Mothers Finest. I have learned more from Glenn and Joyce Murdock about the music business and more importantly about life in general. They have truly been inspirations to me for many years. I love them dearly.

I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to my wonderful husband, Kerry. Kerry is a drummer and he encouraged me to take bass lessons with him, which ultimately led to me forming the Vintage Vixens. He is my rock!

And…there was a book that was ever so helpful……called “This Business of Music”. When I was in the “learning” phase of the booking business, I often went to this book to get answers to my many questions. It was invaluable!

Website: www.SpeerEntertainment.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/VVBandAtlanta

Other: LSpeer@aol.com 404-406-4197