The NAMM Foundation has announced that record producer and music industry executive Don Was will receive the 2016 Les Paul Award at the 31st annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards and TECnology Hall of Fame January 23 at the 2016 NAMM Show. The Les Paul Award recognizes those who embody the creative spirit and legacy of one of the most revered musical geniuses who ever lived. The NAMM TEC Awards will be hosted by comedian Sinbad.
Was is one of music’s most significant artists, producers and executives. He co-founded former Detroit-based band Was (Not Was) with childhood friend David Was (Weiss) before going on to produce decades of commercially successful and critically-acclaimed recordings for top artists. He has earned multiple Grammy Awards for his production work over the past three decades including Bonnie Raitt’s Nick Of Time (’89), Producer of the Year for work with artists ranging from The Rolling Stones to Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison (‘94) and Ziggy Marley’s Best Musical Album for Children, Family Time (‘09).
Was joins a prestigious group of Les Paul honorees including Stevie Wonder, Sting, Pete Townshend and more, who have “set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio and music technology,” according to the Les Paul Foundation.
