Bernie Walters’ career in the music business is as diverse as the music he has immersed himself in as a photographer, promoter, record executive, and preservationist. In the beginning, Bernie’s skills as a photographer created an ideal opportunity for him to follow his passion for rock music. While rock and roll was still evolving and growing, Bernie attended countless concerts, photographing some of the most well-known classic rock artists doing what they do best…performing live. Visit Bernie’s Web site www.classicrockshots.com to find unique, never-before seen images of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Who, The Kinks and so many more rock and roll legends.
No longer just a fan taking photographs of popular bands and artists, Bernie was actually documenting music history. Knowing that there were many more entrepreneurs like him, Bernie realized that these rock and roll treasures needed to be archived and preserved. Long before there was an official rock and roll museum, Bernie founded the International Rock and Roll Music Association, with a mission to promote and preserve the history of rock and roll. Sensing its importance, and understanding the need to archive this period in music history, Bernie reached out to some of the biggest names of the time to serve as honorary members of the Association’s Board of Directors. Included on the Board were Carl Perkins, Gregg Allman, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders, Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick and Phil Ehart of Kansas.
While professional manager of ATV Music (The Beatles catalog). Bernie was responsible for numerous country cuts for artists including Eddie Raven, John Anderson, Mickey Gilley and Dobie Gray. He also worked with legendary writers including Mentor Williams, and Robert Johnson of RPM, one of Nashville's first rock acts to get signed to Warner Brothers.
Bernie then served as Professional manager for Leon Russell's Paradise Records and worked with artists like John Beland of the Flying Burrito Brothers, as well as with Leon Russell himself. As professional manager, he secured numerous cuts by various artists including Joe Cocker's international single Shelter Me and Van Zant's (Geffen Records) She's Out With A Gun.
Bernie’s next move was as A&R/professional manager for MTM Music Group, a division of MTM Records. There, he signed alternative rock band In Pursuit, the first rock band signed to MTM. While there, he went on to secure numerous rock/pop/R&B and country covers including songs by Joe Cocker, Kansas, and Linda Clifford. He secured contracts to place songs in film soundtracks for Fatal Attraction and Roxanne, and also signed Bill Lloyd of Foster And Lloyd and Beth Nielsen Chapman.
Subsequently, he opened the Nashville Office of Minneapolis-based Mid-Co Music and started Walters Music, where he signed Paradise Lost (MCA) and These Are Houseplants to publishing deals. He also signed songwriter Ron Miller whose music had been recorded by Kansas, Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, and Van Zant.
Bernie recently coordinated internationally known sitar player Roop Verma to perform on the new Dalai Lama Renaissance soundtrack and he currently serves on the A&R Unlimited A&R executive staff.
Today, Bernie is A&R Executive for Indian Ledge Records, a new record label owned and operated by musicians, as well as Publishing Manager for The Music Publishing Company, Indian Ledge’s publishing arm.
Contact Information:Bernie.Walters@indianledgemusicgroup.com
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