LAS VEGAS — The Parnelli Awards Board of Advisors announced that Grammy nominated composer/guitarist Adrian Belew will host the 2016 Parnelli Awards. The event is set for the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, Oct. 22, just two days after the Parnelli Golf Tournament on Oct. 20.
Belew, who recently wrapped up his “Power Trio” tour showcasing songs from his extensive repertoire of 20 critically acclaimed albums, has also recorded with and/or toured with King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Laurie Anderson, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, and Tori Amos, among many others. His innovative guitar work can be heard on Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” among other hits.
“Adrian has a unique sense of humor, and he has toured the world for decades with so many acclaimed bands,” said Parnelli Board of Advisors member James Leasing, who was instrumental in securing Belew for the show. “All you have to do is look at where he has played in 2016 to know that he’ll have some interesting tales for us at the Parnelli Awards.”
Belew was first discovered by Frank Zappa while playing a club in Nashville in 1977. Zappa brought him to Los Angeles and helped launch his career. While touring with Zappa, David Bowie invited Belew to play with him. In 1979, he toured with the Talking Heads and, in 1981, Belew joined the newly reformed King Crimson, for which he wrote, recorded, and toured on and off for the next three decades.
In 1982, Belew launched his first solo record, and he has since followed that up with 17 more. In 1984, he fronted The Bears. In 1990, he toured with David Bowie as his guitarist and musical director on the Sound+Vision tour. Since then, there’s been a parade of solo work, collaborations, film work (including the Pixar short, Piper, which opens for the hit movie, Finding Dory), and touring the world.
“I first met Belew when I had an independent alternative weekly newspaper back in Indianapolis many years ago, and I’ve seen him in concert many times since,” said Terry Lowe, executive producer of the Parnelli Awards and publisher of PLSN. “He’s a remarkable guy, and he is going to be a great host. He’s perfect for our industry-only show, because even if people don’t think they know him, they do — and those who do know him are going to be really excited to be in the same room with him!”
This year’s show is expected to be the largest Parnelli Awards ever produced. Aside from Belew’s appearance, the show highlights will include the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Fernandez, the Parnelli Visionary Award to Danny O’Bryen and the Audio Innovator Award to Greg Mackie. Tickets will be going fast, so act now to ensure you have your seat at the industry’s premier event. You can reserve your seat (or table) at www.parnelliawards.com/reservations.
Nominations Continue
For PLSN readers, the Parnelli Awards nomination process has begun, and continues until Aug. 24. If you haven’t done so, you can also nominate a product for an Indispensable Technologies “IT” Award this month as well.
Although it’s known that Fernandez, O’Bryen and Mackie will be honored for their career achievements, of the other Parnelli Awards are up for grabs — and it all depends on YOU, the PLSN reader. Your nomination is critical — it very well could make the difference between whether or not a deserving individual or company gets on the ballot or not.
So head over to the online nominations at www.parnelliawards.com/nominate and make sure YOUR voice is heard. There, you can nominate your choice for Lighting Designer, Lighting Director, Set/Scenic Designer, Video Director, Tour Manager and Production Manager of the Year. There are also awards honoring companies involved in Lighting, Staging, Set Construction, Video, Rigging, Pyro, Trucking and Freight Forwarding. (And, yes, you CAN nominate your own company!) The nominations deadline is Aug. 31; Parnelli voting takes place in September.
Separately, PLSN readers have begun nominating top products in four categories — lighting, video, staging and audio — for this year’s Indispensable Technology (“IT”) Awards. To recognize products that have advanced the state-of-the-art in audio, lighting, staging and projection, go to http://parnelliawards.com/nominate_ITawards.php.
Visit www.parnelliawards.com for more information and reservations for the 2016 event. And please know that none of it would be possible without the generous support of the 2016 Parnelli Awards Sponsors. This year’s Parnelli Awards sponsors start off with our Platinum level sponsor, Group One Ltd., sponsoring the awards program on behalf of brands it distributes, including Avolites and DiGiCo.
Gold sponsors include A.C.T Lighting, All Access Staging, Bandit Lites, Branam Enterprises, Brown United, Inc., Columbus McKinnon, Create LED, Elation Professional, Gallagher Staging & Productions/TourReady, Global Trend Productions/Oracle, Harman Group (AKG, BSS, Crown, dbx, JBL, Martin Professional, Soundcraft/Studer), Maryland Sound, MooTV, PixelFLEX, Pyrotek Special Effects, Rock-It Cargo, ROE Visual, Screenworks/NEP, Solotech, Sound Image, Stageline, Strictly FX, Tour Tech East and Ultratec Special Effects.
Silver sponsors include Delicate Productions, Hemphill Brothers Coach Company, Morris, See Factor and TLS Productions Inc. Cocktail Party sponsors include Beachsound, Chauvet and Martin Audio. The Parnelli After Party sponsor for 2016 is Pyrotek Special Effects. Production partners for the 2016 event include Access Event Solutions, Atomic, OSA, PRG, SGA Production Services, Stage Crew and TPI Production and Design.
Finally, there’s the PLSN/FOH Parnelli Golf Classic. This tournament will take place at the Siena Golf Club in Las Vegas on Oct. 20. For more information, go to www.parnelliawards.com/golf.
For more information and reservations, please visit www.parnelliawards.com.
