May 16, 2022 I Event
Carol Kaye, Peter Asher to be Honored at TEC Awards
The NAMM TEC Committee has announced bassist Carol Kaye will be the recipient of this year’s Les Paul Innovation Award alongside top hitmaker, producer and performer, Peter Asher, who will be inducted to the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame. The Les Paul Innovation Award is given on behalf of the Les Paul Foundation to honor individuals who have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of artistry in the spirit of the famed audio pioneer, inventor and musician, Les Paul. Kaye and Asher will be honored in-person at the 37th Annual NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity Awards (TEC Awards) to be held on June 4 during The 2022 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
“This year’s Les Paul Innovation Award recipient is a legend in the music industry and a very well deserving individual that played with Les during her career,” said Michael Braunstein, executive director of The Les Paul Foundation. “Carol pioneered a path that pushed open the door for many women in the business and with it, built a legacy that will continue to encourage all people to create incredible sounds just like Les did. Congratulations Carol, and welcome to the prestigious list of awardees that celebrate our friend, Les Paul.”
With a career spanning decades, Kaye is not only a pioneer in the male-dominated world of pop recording sessions, but one of the industry’s most prolific musicians. Kaye can be heard on more than 10,000 recordings — from timeless, classic songs to TV and movie scores. Her signature style can be heard alongside artists including Herb Alpert; the Beach Boys; Glen Campbell; Ray Charles; Joe Cocker; Dean Martin; Elvis Presley; Lou Rawls; the Righteous Brothers; Simon and Garfunkel; Frank Sinatra; Nancy Sinatra; Sonny and Cher; Barbara Streisand; Frank Zappa and many more.
For his timeless work and artistic innovation, Asher will be inducted and presented with the TEC Hall of Fame award. Throughout his decades-long career in the music industry, Asher has earned the reputation of being one of the industry’s most sought-after producers and performers. His career began in the 1960s as the other half of the pop group Peter & Gordon. After the group disbanded, Asher was named Director of A&R at the Beatles’ Apple Records label, where he signed a then-unknown James Taylor. Asher would go on to work with the likes of Cher, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr and many others, earning him three Grammy Awards for his talents.
