Hardin: A&R exec at Made in Memphis Entertainment
When he was growing up, Hamilton Hardin was considered a near music prodigy, touring Europe while playing everything from jazz to gospel in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
Soon, he arrived in Nashville, performed as a jazz session musician for singer Wendy Moten, a Memphian who happened to introduce him to legendary Stax songwriter David Porter.
When Porter decided to launch his own music studio in Memphis, he turned to Hardin, offered him a critical job — vice president of artists and repertoire, the side of the music house responsible for recruiting and developing talent.
“One thing that sold me on moving from Nashville to here was the determination in his eyes,” Hardin said of Porter. “It told me ‘I’m going to do this.’ I recognized the intensity. I decided I’m not afraid to take a risk.”
On Jan. 15, 2016, Hardin moved to Memphis.
Today, at age 35, he’s a central figure at Made in Memphis Entertainment, the studio and record label that Porter says can revive the city’s music trade.
Hardin realizes the area around the new studio on Union “resembles a ghost town at night,’’ especially compared to busy Nashville.
“Nashville has done a good job marketing itself as a hot spot of music,” Hardin said. “I think it’s a little bit of an urban legend if you will. There’s an overabundance of musicians and singers. Nothing really happens for a lot of people.” Memphis, he said, can rebound. “Nashville will always be the country music capital but not the capital for all music,” Hardin said. “For the heritage in Memphis there’s no reason that can’t come back.”