Craig Chaquico reunited with long lost 1959 Les Paul Sunburst - Hopes to Perform with it Again Thanks to "Meeting of the Musical Minds"

This is a story with a happy ending. Craig Chaquico had first shared a bit of news about his beloved 1959 Les Paul Sunburst electric guitar when we chatted at NAMM several years ago. You can read my original article referencing the quest to get back his guitar here. Craig is one of my favorite rockers; he has a great heart, loves his fans and has an enduring passion for making music. Read on below for the media release that landed in my inbox today...

CRAIG CHAQUICO REUNITED WITH LONG LOST

1959 LES PAUL SUNBURST THAT WAS STOLEN DURING

FAMOUS RIOT AT JEFFERSON STARSHIP CONCERT IN SUMMER OF 1978

GRAMMY-NOMINATED GUITARIST HOPES TO PERFORM ONCE AGAIN

WITH BELOVED GUITAR HEARD ON SUCH JEFFERSON STARSHIP HITS AS

"WITH YOUR LOVE," "COUNT ON ME" AND "RUNAWAY"

Craig Chaquico with 1959 Les
Paul Standard Sunburst guitar.
Photo credit: Roger Ressmeyer

For Jefferson Starship guitarist and original founding member Craig Chaquico, "Find Your Way Back" has a whole new meaning some 35 years after writing, and performing on, the Billboard Top Ten single from the band's 1981 album, Modern Times.

It was a year ago this month that Craig informed his worldwide fans about his quest to retrieve his beloved 1959 Les Paul Sunburst guitar (9-2180) that was thought to have been destroyed during a summer of '78 fiery riot in Lorelei, Germany, right after it was announced that Jefferson Starship wouldn't be taking the stage that day as a result of legendary singer Grace Slick not feeling well.

Fearing for their safety, the band members that were on site -- Craig, David Frieberg, and John Barbata -- quickly evacuated the area. Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin and Pete Sears were still at the hotel. Devout fans of the band know that their next show in Hamburg together would mark the last for this original line-up.

Almost all of the bands’ instruments and gear went missing during this riot, including Craig’s rare 1957 Les Paul Gold Top (still missing – Serial No. 7 8793 – played on the first two Jefferson Starship hit albums, Dragon Fly (1974) and Red Octopus (1975)), and this recently discovered ’59 Sunburst guitar that was near-and-dear to Craig's heart, as he used it on the platinum-selling Jefferson Starship albums, Spitfire (1976) and Earth (1978), and can be heard on such classic hits as "With Your Love," "Count on Me" and "Runaway" among others. Of course, it's this rock and roll history that has added extreme value to the guitar. 

Part of the successful identification process which, without the serial number, included Craig going through thousands of high-resolution photos in the vast archives of Roger Ressmeyer who was a key band photographer throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, including for both the Spitfire and Earth albums.

In what could be called "a feel good story," the '59 Sunburst has finally found its way back.

"Miracles" happen.

Three years after he was tipped off that the guitar might still be in existence, Craig's difficult quest to get it back has ended after a meeting of the musical minds between Craig and the instrument's current owner, a guitar aficionado, himself.

After more than a year of back-and-forth's in the legal system, the two musicians sat down and talked about the history of the guitar (now known affectionately as "Lorelei") and what it meant to each of them. And it was this discussion that led to a confidential settlement agreement and resolution between the parties...

"Seeing the guitar for the first time after so many years brought back so many memories for me," states Chaquico. "One of my dreams from the outset was simply to perform or record with it again... and it looks like that dream just might come true."

In a gesture of good will from one musician to another, the current owner of the '59 Sunburst (who has now owned the instrument for almost a dozen years) would like Craig to continue making great music and providing further heritage to the instrument that already has an illustrious past thanks to Craig. This guitar went everywhere with him beginning in the mid-70's until it vanished at the riot.

"I'm thoroughly excited about hitting the stage with it again sometime this year," says Craig. "It'll be a magical moment for me and I'm sure I'll feel like a 'kid' in the mid-70's all over again. 'Lorelei' truly is one of my favorite guitars of all-time."

"What was most pleasing for me was seeing Craig and the current owner, both lovers of music and guitars, sit down for a day and talk amongst themselves to develop a trust," says attorney Peter Koenig who represented Craig in his pursuit of the guitar. "While us lawyers discussed esoteric legal points as to who, rightfully, would keep the guitar, Craig opened a dialogue with the current owner that ultimately allowed for both of them to share their feelings and realize their dream outcome. I look forward to the music Craig makes on '9-2180'."

The value of the guitar can only increase over time if it remains in its impeccable condition.

According to a Guitar Player magazine article in April 2016, Metallica's Kirk Hammett purchased a 1959 Les Paul Standard that was previously owned by Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green and guitar great Gary Moore for a reported $2 million.

Craig looks forward to great things ahead, commenting, "What I'd really like to see is a reunion of Jefferson Starship original members who lost their instruments that day come together and perform with them again. Pete Sears got his bass back in 2013 and John Barbata got his cymbals back shortly after the riot."

As the popular Jefferson Starship song, "Rock Music," says, "Rock 'n' Roll is good time music... listen to it!"

And to quote yet another one of their hits, "Freedom at Point Zero," " 'n Rock 'n' Roll isn't over!"

Craig Chaquico Social Media

Official Website: www.craigchaquico.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CraigChaquicoOfficalPage/?ref=hl

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CraigChaquico (@CraigChaquico)

YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/CraigChaquicoVideo

For more detailed information on the riot, itself, please see - http://starship.lu/E78/E78.html

Album reviews: Women in the spotlight on new releases, reissues

Dolly Parton's #1 album "Pure & Simple" is one of a number of strong artistic returns featuring the voices of female artists whose voices and unique artistry are featured across must-hear titles available now.


Artist: Dolly Parton
Title: Pure & Simple (Sony Music Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris
Tell me more: At 70, Dolly Parton has long been an icon as well known for her theme park, movie roles, Dollywood Foundation-related philanthropy and distinctive brand as for her music. But the Tennessee native's new album Pure & Simple rightly puts the focus back on Parton, who wrote every song on the disc. On the lead-off title track, Parton display's her sweet soprano is fully intact and able to deliver romantic lines with tenderness and artful dexterity. "Outside Your Door" finds the singer exploring the more visceral thrill of love, her voice again up to the challenge. Pure & Simple is likely Parton's strongest album in years, with the singer setting her romance-minded tales amidst smart arrangements varying from sparse acoustic settings to piano and fiddle-anchored soundscapes. The Cracker Barrel deluxe version includes two bonus tracks (versions of Parton's hits "Jolene" and "9 To 5" recorded live at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival); the unique collection also includes a 48-page ZinePak magazine filled with photos and interviews with the artist. Information: DollyParton.com.


Artist: Michelle Mangione
Title: Ponies (Michelle Mangione)
You might like if you enjoy: Grace Slick, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Grace Potter
Tell me more: Michelle Mangione's new album Ponies is a wonderful achievement, and not just because it's an independent release. The Southern California-based singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has a knack for blending a number of musical styles in the service of insightful songs that are crafted via dynamic and melodic songcraft  "Jolie" blends folk rock and power-pop via a bouncy 12-string guitar-driven song that is in tune with summertime. Her original "Ride" is a beautiful and sonically-fitting Americana-styled tribute to the late Levon Helm; "The Edge of Madness" (a song Mangione co-penned with legendary Jefferson Airplane singer-songwriter Grace Slick) captures the sounds of New Orleans with a tapestry of drums, fiddle, horns and a chorus of voices that includes Slick, Martha Davis of the Motels and Teri Nunn of Berlin. Other standouts on the 15-track disc include the rocking "Queen of Hysteria" and countrified "The Criminal In You." Information: MichelleMangione.com.




Artist: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Title: The Things That We Are Made Of (Lambent Light Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Shawn Colvin, Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris
Tell me more: Middle age is explored with depth, warmth and honesty across Mary Chapin Carpenter's stunning The Things That We Are Made Of. Once known as a country music hit maker, Carpenter has increasingly joined the ranks of Emmylou Harris and Rosanne Cash as an artist who uses her voice in the service of songs that resonate deeply via explorations of the deepest reaches of the human experience. Carpenter has written all 11 songs on The Things That We Are Made Of, and each conveys a wealth of emotional riches. Beautiful and telling titles abound here; "The Middle Ages," "What Does It Mean to Travel," "Map of My Heart" and "Deep Deep Down Heart" are among the many treasures on this astounding collection. Information: MaryChapinCarpenter.com.




Artists: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt
Title: The Complete Trio Collection (Rhino)
You might like if you enjoy: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt
Tell me more: When it comes to super groups, few have attained the majestic heights that were reached when country music singers Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt joined forces to record Trio (1987) and an equally-compelling follow-up disc Trio II (1999). The three-disc "The Complete Trio Collection" set includes Trio I, Trio II and a bonus disc of 20 rare and previously-unreleased tracks. The bonus material is especially exciting, ranging from an alternate take of the tender "Wildflowers" recorded in 1986, the bewitching country ballad "Waltz Across Texas Tonight" (tracked in 1994) and an unreleased 1994 recording of the spiritual "Softly and Tenderly." Everywhere the beautiful and distinctive voices of Parton, Harris and Ronstadt shine, whether taking solo turns or joining in the most lovely of harmonies. Information: rhino.com.




Artists: Judy Henske & Jerry Yester
Title: Farewell Aldebaran (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Frank Zappa
Tell me more: Farewell Aldebaran is among the most eclectic and genre-defying albums recorded in the anything-goes 1960s. The fact that Judy Henske & Jerry Yester's Farewell Aldebaran mixed folk, rock, psychedelia, baroque and jazz pop, theatrical-styled songs and more didn't likely help the 1969 release, which seemed destined to languish in obscurity. But a new reissue of Farewell Aldebaran remastered from the original master tracks  is a must-have for discerning music fans. Like the Zombies' now-classic Odessey and Oracle, Farewell Aldebaran is an exciting and intoxicating listen. The art damage rocker "Snowblind," sweeping "Three Ravens" and country-bending "Raider" are just a few of the joyful discoveries here. In addition to the original 10-song album, the new Omnivore Recordings reissue includes five previously unissued bonus tracks. The physical CD version includes a full-color 20-page booklet packed with liner notes, lyrics and photos. A new LP pressing on starburst vinyl with gatefold jacket and eight-page booklet is also available. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.

Robert Kinsler

Upcoming schedule of programs at GRAMMY Museum: Sir George Martin tribute, Celebration of Jefferson Airplane, Lissie, more!

If you have never been to the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, I highly recommend it. I've seen a number of great programs and artists presented at the museum, and the exhibits are always interesting too. Here is a list of upcoming programs and events coming between now and the end of April. The Museum is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90015, in the L.A. Live entertainment center...

George Martin in 2006.

Monday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. SOLD OUT
The Record Theater: A Tribute To Sir George Martin
Hosted and created by Marvin Etzioni

Back for the sixth time by popular demand, the GRAMMY Museum invites you to the Clive Davis Theater to experience The Record Theater. This special installment of The Record Theater will pay tribute to six-time GRAMMY winner Sir George Martin, who rescued The Beatles from obscurity and produced the greatest and most popular songs the world has ever heard. The audience will listen to iconic tracks featuring The Beatles, Shirley Bassey, Billy J. Kramer, and more. After the last song is played, special guests Willie Aron, award-winning film/TV composer, Brian Kehew, co-author of Recording The Beatles, and Chris Carter, host of Breakfast with the Beatles on KLOS, will join Record Theater creator Marvin Etzioni onstage for a discussion.

Tuesday, April 12, 8 p.m. SOLD OUT
An Evening With Anoushka Shankar

The GRAMMY Museum welcomes GRAMMY-nominated sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar to the Clive Davis Theater for a performance and discussion surrounding her forthcoming album Land of Gold – her response to the humanitarian trauma of displaced people fleeing conflict and poverty. The evening will be hosted by GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli. Prior to the program, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Museum's special exhibit, Ravi Shankar: A Life In Music, one last time from 6:30–7:30 p.m. before it closes the following day.

Tuesday, April 19, 8 p.m.
The Drop: Blaqk Audio
Tickets: $20

The GRAMMY Museum welcomes Blaqk Audio — the electronic alter ego of Davey Havok and Jade Puget from multi-platinum rock band AFI — to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate conversation on their new album Materialand move to electronic music, hosted by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. The conversation will be followed by a special performance.

Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

A Conversation With Daniel Kramer

Tickets: $15

In conjunction with the GRAMMY Museum's latest special exhibit, Bob Dylan: Photographs of Daniel Kramer, we are pleased to welcome renowned music and portrait photographer Daniel Kramer to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate discussion on the exhibit and his enduring photographer career.

Sunday, April 24, 12 p.m.

Celebrating Jefferson Airplane: A Conversation With Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen And Jack Casady

Tickets: $30

In celebration of their recent honor with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, the GRAMMY Museum welcomes Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate conversation on their esteemed career, hosted by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares.

Tuesday, April 26, 8 p.m.
Spotlight: Lissie

Tickets: $20

The GRAMMY Museum welcomes folk-rock singer/songwriter Lissie to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate conversation on her latest album, and most personal one to date, My Wild West, hosted by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. The conversation will be followed by a special performance.

Wednesday, April 27, 8 p.m.
A Conversation With Iggy Pop And Josh Homme
Tickets: $40

The GRAMMY Museum is pleased to welcome rock icon Iggy Pop and GRAMMY winner Josh Homme to the Clive Davis Theater for an intimate conversation on their new album, Post Pop Depression, hosted by Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares.

For more information, visit the GRAMMY Museum Web site: http://www.grammymuseum.org/

Craig Chaquico reflects on career; hopes to be reunited with two stolen guitars

Craig Chaquico with 1959 Les
Paul Standard Sunburst guitar.

Craig Chaquico is that rare rock artist who has found success in two different bands, and subsequently as a solo artist celebrated for his work in a completely different musical genre.

In the 1970s, the Sacramento, California native earned early acclaim for his work as lead guitarist with Jefferson Starship (notably on the 1975 album Red Octopus, which includes the hit "Miracles" and the rock favorite "Fast Buck Freddie" he co-wrote with Grace Slick). In the 1980's several members of that band morphed into the commercial juggernaut known as Starship, where Chaquico played lead guitar on all of the band's iconic hits including "We Built This City," "Sara" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." 

After leaving Starship in 1990, the talented Chaquico embarked on a winning solo career as an instrumental smooth jazz and blues guitarist, and scored a Grammy nomination for his 1994 disc Acoustic Planet.

I recently had the chance to catch up with Chaquico, where our phone chat focused on a wide-range of areas. He noted that he is working on completing a live DVD/CD release that was recorded on June 13, 2015, the 40th anniversary of the release of Red Octopus. That 1975 album reached the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and remains one of the most beloved rock albums of the 1970s. Chaquico's live performance captured him performing material from his five decade career, including rock, jazz and blues selections.

"We recorded it at Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley," explained Chaquico, noting the location of the original Sweetwater was "our local little town watering hole" in Marin County during Jefferson Starship's early days. "I lived right above that." 

Our conversation quickly turned to Chaquico's current quest to be reunited with several beloved electric guitars, including two instruments that were stolen in the wake of an infamous riot that played out while Jefferson Starship was on tour in Lorelei, Germany in the summer of 1978.The riot broke out when it was reported to the audience that Slick was not feeling well enough to perform. When the crowd rioted, the band escaped only to return to the scene the next morning and discover the stage had been set afire, and their instruments and equipment had been burned and – as with the case with Chaquico's two Gibson Les Paul guitars – stolen.

Later this spring, the artist is scheduled to go to federal court is hopes of securing the return of his 1959 Les Paul Standard Sunburst guitar.

"On June 13th (of 2016), the 41st anniversary of Red Octopus – is the day I go to court," Chaquico noted. 

It is a long and amazing story, but it has played out like a "Raiders of the Lost Ark" flick with a series of far-flung events including the return of one of Jefferson Starship bassist Pete Sears' instruments thought destroyed in the fire and a fateful connection made because Chaquico played in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special (which featured Jefferson Starship performing the Chaquico-penned "Light the Sky on Fire") leading him to connect with someone who provided him with the serial numbers of his lost guitars (via an article published in Germany in the late 1970s that posted the serial numbers).

"The guy said 'Not only do I have the serial numbers, I know where your Sunburst (guitar) is; in a guy's collection in Malibu.'," Chaquico explained.

Chaquico tracked down the collector who had his Sunburst guitar. At first it seemed as if it would be easy for Chaquico to secure the guitar (he had a wealth of documents and photos to prove it); but because the collector wanted to get a return on his financial investment events have led to the most recent developments; for now Chaquico's guitar is safely in the court's jurisdiction until it a final outcome is determined.

Craig Chaquico with 1957 Gold
Top Les Paul.

Chaquico has spent tens of  thousands of dollars on legal fees and related costs, and has made five trips to California to try to get back the Sunburst guitar. While he doesn't believe the person who purchased his guitar initially knew it was stolen, he believes it should clearly be returned to him. In addition, Chaquico is hoping the attention from this story will one day reunite him with the other guitar stolen from him in 1978  – his 1957 Gold Top Les Paul (Serial #7 8793), which Chaquico used during the recording of "Dragonfly" and "Red Octopus."

"The question is, 'How can I get it back and help get him whole? No matter what happens...maybe the band (Jefferson Starship) will do a reunion."


For more information on Chaquico, visit his Web site at CraigChaquico.com and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/CraigChaquico.

Photo Credit for both photos: Roger Ressmeyer / Corbis

Top photo: Craig with 1959 Les Paul Sunburst

Middle photo: Craig with 1959 Les Paul Sunburst in recording studio with Jefferson Starship

Bottom photo: Craig with 1957 Gold Top Les Paul (Serial #7 8793)

Robert Kinsler

The Recording Academy® to honor legends as part of 'GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends'

With the recent passing of Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White (on Feb. 3, 2016) and Jefferson Airplane's Paul Kantner (on Jan. 28, 2016), it's nice to see both of those seminal artists among those being honored at the upcoming "GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends." Here is the media release...

THE RECORDING ACADEMY^® TO HONOR 2016 SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS RECIPIENTS WITH NEW TELEVISION SPECIAL
"GRAMMY SALUTE TO MUSIC LEGENDS^®" AS PART OF LANDMARK "GREAT PERFORMANCES" SERIES ON PBS
 
AWARDS CEREMONY AND TRIBUTE CONCERT TO 
TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016 AT 
THE DOLBY THEATER IN LOS ANGELES

Paul Kantner, of Jefferson Airplane and
Jefferson Starship fame, will be among
those honored at the upcoming event.

Maurice White in 1982.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (March 29, 2016) —The Recording Academy^®  will honor its 2016 Special Merit Awards recipients with an awards ceremony and live tribute concert onSaturday, April 23, 2016 at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Dubbed "GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends," the event will be produced in partnership with THIRTEEN as part of the"Great Performances" series on PBS, set to air later this year. Led by music industry icon Don Was as musical director, the tribute concert will feature rare performances by honorees and never-seen renditions by those they've inspired. Tickets for the event will be on sale via Ticketmaster beginning Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 10:00 am PST.
 
This year's Lifetime Achievement Award honorees include Ruth Brown, Celia Cruz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Jefferson Airplane, Linda Ronstadt, and RUN DMC.John Cage, Fred Foster, and Chris Strachwitz are Trustees Award honorees; and EMT andDr. Harvey Fletcher are Technical GRAMMY^® Award recipients. Also being honored is Phillip Riggs, this year's recipient of the GRAMMY Foundation Music Educator Award. Performers will be announced shortly.
 
Previously held during GRAMMY Week, this is the first time that The Recording Academy has celebrated the Special Merit Awards with a stand-alone event and musical tribute. In addition to the tribute concert, special celebrity guests will present recipients their award statues and guests will enjoy never-before-seen video packages celebrating each of the honorees' contributions to the music industry and our cultural heritage.
 
"For many years now, we've wanted to honor Special Merit Awards recipients on a larger scale with an event like 'GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends,' so I'm delighted to partner with THIRTEEN Productions and PBS to bring this worthy celebration to a bigger stage," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "The contributions of our honorees are innumerable, and we look forward to an unforgettable evening as we pay tribute to their exceptional accomplishments."
 
A production of THIRTEEN Productions LLC for WNET, "GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends" will be written by David Wild and directed for television by David Horn, with Mitch Owgang as producer, and David Horn and Neil Portnow as executive producers.
 
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors performers who have made contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording, while the Trustees Award recognizes such contributions in areas other than performance. Both awards are determined by vote of The Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. Technical GRAMMY Award recipients are determined by vote of The Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing^® Advisory Council and Chapter Committees, and are ratified by The Academy's Trustees. The award is presented to individuals and companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
 
About the Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees:
 
Ruth Brown* began her musical career in the church choir at the tender age of 4. A singer/songwriter, record producer, composer, and actress noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music, Brown became one of the undisputed architects of the genre. She recorded a number of hit songs, including "I'll Wait For You," "I Know," "5-10-15 Hours," and "Mambo Baby." She later went on to have a successful theater career.
 
Celia Cruz* was one of the most popular salsa singers and performers in history. Known internationally as the "Queen of Salsa," the Cuban-American Cruz was a larger-than life-personality. She recorded 23 gold albums and was a recipient of the United States National Medal of Arts. Cruz received three GRAMMY Awards and four Latin GRAMMY Awards.

Six-time GRAMMY winners Earth, Wind & Fire were one of the most important and innovative contemporary pop/R&B musical forces of the 20th century. Members Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, Johnny Graham, Ralph Johnson, Al McKay, Fred White, Maurice White*, Verdine White, and Andrew Woolfolk built the group's distinctive signature sound, which has remained profoundly influential. Successfully breaking down all musical genre boundaries since forming in 1969, they recorded seven #1 R&B singles and eight Top 10 pop albums. Earth Wind & Fire earned more than 50 gold and platinum album certifications and more than 90 million albums worldwide, placing them on the list of best-selling musical artists of all time. 
 
One of the most revered and idiosyncratic figures in jazz, Herbie Hancock has been at the forefront almost every development in electronic and acoustic jazz and R&B. A stylistically diverse and ever-intriguing canon of songs, including "Maiden Voyage" and "Rockit," has helped earn him 14 GRAMMY Awards during his impressive five-decade-plus professional solo career.
 
Marty Balin, Jack Casady, Spencer Dryden*, Paul Kantner*, Jorma Kaukonen, and Grace Slick comprised Jefferson Airplane, pioneers of counterculture-era psychedelic rock. Emerging from the San Francisco scene to achieve international mainstream success, performing at the three most famous American rock festivals of the 1960s — Monterey (1967), Woodstock (1969), and Altamont (1969). Their 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow is regarded as one of the key recordings of the "Summer of Love." Two hits from that album, "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit," are among Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."
 
With roots in the Los Angeles country and folk-rock scenes, Linda Ronstadt is one of the most popular interpretive singers of all time, earning a string of platinum-selling albums and Top 40 singles. Throughout the 1970s, her laid-back pop never lost sight of her folky roots, yet as Ronstadt moved into the 1980s, she began to change her sound with the times, adding new wave influences. Her later years saw the 10-time GRAMMY winner exploring traditional pop, Latin, and musical theater.
 
RUN DMC, comprising of Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell*, and Joseph "Reverend Run" Simmons, were one of the most influential and best-known acts in the history of rap. They were the first group in the genre to have a gold album (RUN DMC., 1984) and to be nominated for a GRAMMY Award. They were also the first hip-hop group to earn a platinum record (King Of Rock, 1985), and the first to earn multiplatinum certification (Raising Hell, 1986).
 
 
About the Trustees Award Honorees:
 
John Cage* was an avant-garde composer whose inventive works and unorthodox ideas profoundly influenced the entire music industry. His innovative ideas on composition and performance influenced a broad spectrum of artists including fellow musicians, dancers, choreographers, painters and more. Cage remained on the leading edge of both playful and profound experimentalism for the greater part of his career. One of Cage's best-known and most sonically intriguing innovations, the prepared piano, has become an almost commonplace compositional resource.


Music entrepreneur Fred Foster contributed a great deal to the Nashville music scene of the 1960s and 1970s as a producer and as the head of one of the city's strongest independent labels, Monument Records. He is best known for producing many classic hits by Roy Orbison. He also played a vital role in the career of Kris Kristofferson, and worked with Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Ray Stevens, among others. From 1960 to 1964, Foster produced the overwhelming bulk of hit songs with which Orbison is associated: "Only The Lonely," "In Dreams," "Running Scared," "Blue Bayou," "Blue Angel," "Dream Baby," "Crying," "Candy Man," "Mean Woman Blues," "It's Over," and "Oh, Pretty Woman." 
 
Chris Strachwitz has made his living celebrating the music he loves – music that forms the fabric of both American and international culture.  He is the founder of Arhoolie Records and produces much of the content he releases. To blues fans he is a legend, releasing seminal works by Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mance Lipscomb, Charlie Musselwhite, Rebirth Brass Band, Big Joe Williams, Big Mama Thornton, Lightnin' Hopkins, Earl Hooker, and Elizabeth Cotten, and many others. Strachwitz also produces Cajun music, highlighted by his releases by Clifton Chenier, and also focused on Mexican recordings, especially Norteño music.
 
About the Technical GRAMMY Award Recipients:
 
Known as the father of stereophonic sound, Dr. Harvey Fletcher* was a prominent physicist, credited with inventing the hearing aid and the first audiometer. Through his research, he was able to document and demonstrate the spatial effects of sound, which he called auditory perspective, or stereo. However, it was his profound interest in music that led Fletcher to partner with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and this collaboration produced more than 100 stereo recordings. In his tests, listeners were often unable to distinguish the difference between the live orchestra and the recordings.
 
EMT (Elektro-Mess-Technik) was founded in Berlin in 1940, originally manufacturing high-end pro measuring devices and turntables for broadcast, television, and recording studios. In 1957, the company made a huge breakthrough with the release of the EMT 140 Reverberation Unit — the first plate reverb. Upon its introduction, the EMT 140 Reverberation Unit quickly garnered popularity, providing a smoother substitute to spring reverb systems, simplifying the process of affecting recorded sound while providing the engineer with a more versatile and customizable interface than acoustic chambers. With the plates' introduction, the sound of popular music changed dramatically as evident in English recordings made at Abbey Road by the Beatles and Pink Floyd, as well as RCA Victor recordings by Nashville’s Chet Atkins and many others.
 
*Denotes posthumous award
 
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and recording professionals dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education, and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, "like" The GRAMMYs on Facebook  and join The GRAMMYs' social communities on Google+, Instagram, Tumblr, and YouTube.