On December 8, 2016 the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) presented legendary guitarist Joe Walsh with its Founders Award, an honor given to artists who have made outstanding contributions in popular music. The annual award gala is also a fundraiser for MoPOP’s youth education programs. This year, the event generated the highest revenue in the history of the program, with nearly $1.2 million raised.
This was the first time ever Walsh has been honored for his solo work and there to present the award were Ringo Starr and MoPOP founder, Paul G. Allen, along with musicians Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins (who performed with Joe as a trio—Dave on bass, Taylor on drums—blowing the crowd away with a rare James Gang gem “Lost Woman” and the classic “Walk Away”), Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Noah Hunt (“All Night Long”, “Turn To Stone”), Paul Rodgers (“Pretty Maids All In A Row”, “Life In The Fast Lane”, Robert Randolph (“I Can Play That Rock ‘n’ Roll”) and Todd Rundgren (“In The City”, “Life's Been Good To Me So Far”). The evening’s highlights also included: “Rocky Mountain Way”, with Ringo, Paul Allen and Joe joining Kenny Wayne Shepherd and the house band (Fred Eltringham (drums), Audley Freed (guitar), Robert Kearns (bass), Sadler Vaden (guitar), and Jimmy Wallace (keyboard) and an All Star jam (with Dave Grohl on drums) for “Funk 49”.
For the musicians who couldn't be there tribute messages came in from rock's royalty and music's finest including Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Jeff Lynne, Slash, Billy Gibbons, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, James Taylor, Jason Isbell, Don Was, Sheryl Crow, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi.
As the creator of some of rock’s most memorable guitar riffs, GRAMMY® Award-winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Joe Walsh has had a remarkable career spanning nearly five decades and dozens of hit songs. In 1969 Walsh earned attention as guitarist and vocalist for the James Gang and later launched his successful solo career. In 1975 Walsh joined the Eagles, bringing his harder-edged rock sound to Hotel California, which has sold more than 50 million copies and made Walsh and the Eagles superstars. Walsh’s distinctive guitar playing, songwriting, and live performances have inspired countless musicians and fans throughout the world.
Previous Founders Award recipients include:
2007: Ann and Nancy Wilson
2008: Robbie Robertson
2009: Steve Cropper
2010: Billy Cox
2011: Buddy Guy
2012: Carlos Santana
2013: Crosby, Stills & Nash
2014: Jackson Browne
2015: Jimmy Page
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