The Recording Academy™ Producers & Engineers Wing® will honor eight-time GRAMMY® Award winner Willie Nelson at its annual GRAMMY Week celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles. Now in its 12th year, this event will celebrate the artistic achievements and creative genius of Nelson, one of the music industry’s most beloved icons. The event also acknowledges the overall industry contributions of the Producers & Engineers Wing’s more than 6,400 professional members. GRAMMY Week culminates with the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards® on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, airing live on the CBS Television Network, at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT.
"Willie Nelson has inspired generations of musicians and fans, and continues to set precedents of excellence within the music community," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "We are privileged to pay tribute this year to an industry pioneer who perfectly embodies the tireless efforts of the Producers & Engineers Wing as we continue to raise awareness of the ever-evolving climate of sound quality and the increasing interest in the preservation and integrity of recorded music."
"Each year, the Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing annual GRAMMY Week event honors members of the recording community who exhibit exceptional standards of integrity, creativity, and sonic quality," said Maureen Droney, Managing Director of the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing. "We are thrilled to pay homage to Willie Nelson, an undeniable icon with an incomparable – and uncompromising – body of work."
With a six-decade career and more than 200 albums, Nelson is the creative force behind historic recordings such as "Crazy," Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust. He has earned innumerable accolades as a songwriter and musician, while also amassing admirable credentials as an author, actor and activist, and he continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. A leading figure in outlaw country music, he is also known for his hugely successful collaborations with Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Julio Iglesias, and with the Highwaymen supergroup (Johnny Cash, Jennings, Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson). Never one to play it safe, his distinctive style combines elements of jazz, blues, swing, honky-tonk, traditional pop, folk and rock. During the past 10 years, Nelson has delivered 14 new albums, released the Top 10 New York Times bestselling book It’s A Long Story: My Life, and continues to headline Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985. Additionally, Nelson has headlined three years of the ongoing Luck Reunion food and music festival at his ranch in Luck, Texas, during SXSW, announced the launch of his cannabis company Willie’s Reserve, and graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Nelson continues to record more new songs for upcoming projects as well as touring throughout North America. His latest 2018 release is a tribute to the songs sung by Frank Sinatra, titled, fittingly, My Way; and he just recently debuted a new single, "Vote 'Em Out." In addition to eight GRAMMY Awards, Nelson has been recognized by the Recording Academy with the President’s Merit Award (1986), GRAMMY Legend Award (1990), and Lifetime Achievement Award (2000).
Previous Producers & Engineers Wing honorees include:
2009—Ahmet & Nesuhi Ertegun; Jerry Wexler; Arif Mardin & Tom Dowd
2010—Chris Blackwell
2011—T Bone Burnett
2012—Jimmy Iovine
2013—Quincy Jones & Al Schmitt
2014—Neil Young
2015—Nile Rodgers
2016—Rick Rubin
2017—Jack White
2018—Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz
