So my son attended his commencement this weekend at Mercer Universtity in Macon, GA.

There to receive his Honorary Doctor of Music presentation was long time RS keyboardist Chuck Leavell. He played a nice version of "Georgia" before receiving his award. Both of Leavell's books are published by the Mercer University Press. I wanted to corner him, for a few questions, after the ceremonies, but couldn't get close.

Another noteworthy musical connection. Phil Walden received a posthumous Doctor of Humanities.

Walden, whose Macon, Ga.-based Capricorn Records launched the Allman Brothers Band and became known as "the citadel of Southern rock" in the 1970s, died last month at his home in Atlanta. He had cancer.

His career began when he started managing Otis Redding and booking shows for other R&B artists in the late '50s. Walden and Redding planned to build a recording studio together, but their plans ended when Redding died in a plane crash in 1967. Instead, Walden launched Capricorn Records.

The label, which was initially distributed by Atlantic, was intended to be an R&B singles label. But, Walden told the Chicago Tribune, "quite honestly, after Otis's death, black music just didn't seem the same for me. . . . I had tried before to get some rock-and-roll clients [to manage], and now I was hellbent on proving I could come up with some rock groups" for Capricorn.

After hearing a tape of Wilson Pickett performing "Hey Jude," Walden asked the producer who the guitarist was. "He said it was some long-haired hippie guy down in Muscle Shoals. I said: 'I'm going to Muscle Shoals. I'm gonna sign him and put a group around this guy.' " The guitarist was Duane Allman. Shortly after the release of the band's breakthrough album, "The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East," which went platinum, Allman died in a motorcycle accident.

In 1977, Capricorn ended its distribution deal at Warner Bros. Records, and Walden moved to PolyGram Records. When PolyGram was hit hard by an industry-wide slump two years later, Capricorn filed for bankruptcy. In 1991, Walden made a distribution deal with Warner Bros. and relaunched Capricorn Records in Nashville with Widespread Panic as the label's first act. Walden sold Capricorn in 2000 for a reported $13 million to New York-based Volcano Records and started the label Velocette in Atlanta.

That is a helluva rolercoaster ride!

Was Blondie Chaplin there providing "security"?

Congrats to your boy Steve-O.

One down, two to go.

Dude, let's fucking get dinner this week.

I met Chuck's sister - took a drama class from her at a summer camp when I was like 13. She told us all her brother was a musician, and everyone gets excited. She says "Chuck Leavell. Anyone know him?" I raise my hand and say "from the eric clapton unplugged cd, right?" So I got brownie points. She told me about him - a tree farmer! Awesome lady.

Yeah, I'm game. Our schedules have lightened up a bit. I'll call you.

So we've successfully launched one offspring. Just when I thought we had him off the payroll, he's talking about getting engaged. I better hit that Cash For Life deal this week or they'll all be eloping.

Hopefully his girl's family is loaded, right. Then you are only on the hook for the rehearsal dinner.

As for the ring, time for him to be introduced to the wonderful world of installment paying.

How's Wednesday?

That album was released Aug of 92. You would have been 16. Sorry, had to check. The math just didn't add up.

And I failed addition.

Oh and yeah, congrats Steve.

In related news, Governor Perdue announced that everyone graduating at that cermony's degree has been declared null and void.

AND

Everyone in attendance needs a rabies shot.

All due respect, but Chuck ain't no Rolling Stone.

Ya know, I was gonna put "Rolling Stone" in quotes for that very reason, but figured that after 20 years, six tours and ten CDs with the Rolling Stones, he's an integral part of their sound, both in the studio and on the road.

16. Sorry. Makes the whole story different.

Here, here.