LAS VEGAS — The 2013 Parnelli Awards had it all — humor (host Micky Dolenz busting on Toronto mayor Rob Ford), candor (Eric Pearce’s gratitude for his dad’s support), insight (Mark Engebretson on the fragility of new ideas) and poignancy (Mo Morrison’s “one-two punch” — noting how the news of his Parnelli Hall of Fame honor coincided with the obituary for his longtime friend Marshall Holmes).
There were astonishing moments —Rick “Parnelli” O’Brien’s daughters, Madeleine and Eve, reading the letters of remembrance that their mom, Kate, had saved and only just recently opened, and industry icon Patrick Stansfield, announcing plans for retirement. Together they beamed an aura of poise and competence, quelling any concerns about the fate of the industry as the torch gets passed up to those building ever higher on a secure foundation.
And former Parnelli honorees were also there to lend a hand, and poke fun at themselves, including 2012 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement honoree Charlie Hernandez, who came prepared with an even longer speech than the one he delivered last year, which was summarily ripped to shreds by 2009 Lifetime Achiever Jake Berry.
But the overriding theme for the 13th annual Parnelli Awards gala was exactly the same as for the previous 12 — to give the industry’s backstage heroes a moment in the spotlight. And the epitome of that came at the very end of the evening, as Jon Landau presented the 2013 Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award to ever-humble Bruce Springsteen tour manager George Travis. Travis, to no one’s surprise, spent most of the time onstage trying to deflect the glory, praising the legions of regular guys (and gals) who have helped him manage all the “goop.”
And the 2013 Parnelli Award Winners Are:
Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award
George Travis
Parnelli Hall of Fame
Mo Morrison (Inaugural Inductee)
Parnelli Visionary Award
Eric Pearce
Parnelli Audio Innovator Award
Mark Engebretson
Lighting Company of the Year
Bandit Lites
Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year
Brown Note Productions
Lighting Designer of the Year
Jeff Ravitz
Set/Scenic Designer of the Year
Tom Marzullo
Sound Company of the Year
Solotech
Hometown Hero Sound Company of the Year
KiAN Concert Sound Services
FOH Mixer of the Year
Jim Yakabuski
Monitor Mixer of the Year
Ted Bible
Audio System Tech of the Year
Preston Soper
Video Production Company of the Year
LMG
Video Director of the Year
Dave Davidian
Staging Company of the Year
Brown United
Rigging Company of the Year
Atlanta Rigging Systems
Set Construction Company of the Year
All Access Staging and Productions
Pyro Company of the Year
Pyrotek Special Effects
Production Manager of the Year
Dean Roney
Tour Manager of the Year
Marty Hom
Coach Company of the Year
Hemphill Brothers
Trucking Company of the Year
Upstaging Inc.
Freight Forwarding Company of the Year
Rock-It Cargo
Indispensable Technology – Lighting
Chauvet Professional – Nexus 4×4
Indispensable Technology – Audio
Meyer Sound – LEO Loudspeaker System
Indispensable Technology – Video
Oracle LED Systems – Black Widow HD9
Indispensable Technology – Staging
Gallagher Staging – Mini G Block
In Memoriam
The 2013 Parnelli Awards, which celebrated the achievements of individuals and companies involved in the live production industry, also paused in remembrance of those who passed away in the past year. We’ve posted that full list (with the addition of Troels Volver, who was regrettably not included in the Parnelli program and screen images) in the online posting HERE.
