“Walkin’ Back to Georgia” Release to benefit GA Music
Butch Walker, Elizabeth Cook, and Katie Pruitt Photo by Emma Delevante
BUTCH WALKER, ELIZABETH COOK, AND KATIE PRUITT RELEASE COVER OF JIM CROCE’S “WALKIN’ BACK TO GEORGIA” TODAY VIA NEW WEST RECORDS
100% OF PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE GEORGIA MUSIC FOUNDATION
Butch Walker, Elizabeth Cook, and Katie Pruitt released their rendition of Jim Croce’s “Walkin’ Back to Georgia” today via New West Records. 100% of the proceeds from the single will benefit The Georgia Music Foundation, a non-profit supporting programs of music education, preservation and outreach while fostering an appreciation for the state’s rich music heritage. “Walkin’ Back To Georgia” was produced by Butch Walker and also features the legendary Mickey Raphael on harmonica. It is available for purchase and streaming HERE.
Over the past nine years, the Georgia Music Foundation has presented its annual “Georgia On My Mind” benefit concert which has funded more than $750,000 in grants to music programs at schools, after-schools, and summer music camps. While to audiences, the concert plays like a Grand Ole Opry show with a host, house band, and special guests, backstage it’s more like a big family reunion of Georgia born and associated artists. Butch Walker, Elizabeth Cook, and Katie Pruitt appeared at the May 10th, 2022 event at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville where they first performed “Walkin’ Back to Georgia” live. Walker said, “Honestly, it was a last minute decision. My parents used to listen to Jim Croce all the time in the house and I realized how they would always play ‘Walkin Back To Georgia’ on Summer days when we were living in Cartersville. It brought a rush of memories back, and when we were getting ready to soundcheck I hit up Katie and Elizabeth and asked if they knew the song. Needless to say, they said ‘Yes!’ and we were off and running. We thought it went over really well, so we all agreed that recording a version of it for the cause was the right thing to do.”
Today, Rolling Stone premiered the single with Walker saying, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… music education in school SHAPED MY FUTURE. I was a misfit in a school full of jocks, so to find my tribe, it was always in music classes. Rarely will you find someone that’s a popular and successful artist now, that wasn’t a misunderstood outcast when they were trying to find themselves during their school years. It builds confidence, it makes you feel worthy of something, and most of all, it can focus you on a bigger picture in life instead of turning to drugs or other things. It definitely kept me out of trouble while a lot of my friends were already going to jail or ending up in hospitals. Music was my therapy and my saving grace.” Elizabeth Cook added, “Singing this song with Butch and Katie was an absolute blast. They are both such monster talents. That the proceeds benefit the Georgia Music Foundation is icing on the cake. The Georgia public school system changed my life and I hope they can keep music in schools because music is the art of everything.”
Share Butch Walker, Elizabeth Cook, and Katie Pruitt’s rendition of Jim Croce’s “Walkin’ Back to Georgia” HERE. Katie Pruitt appears courtesy of Rounder Records.
