More than 100 magazines from all over the world voted in over 40 categories for the MIPA awards which were presented at special presentation party during the annual Musikmesse and Prolight&Sound exhibition. However, the MIPA Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award is an exceptional accolade that is not necessarily awarded each year. Peavey enjoyed a particularly successful evening as the manufacturer also won the MIPA Best Guitar Amp Combo Award for the Peavey Vypyr 15 modeling guitar amplifier at the event.
"The MIPA Lifetime Achievement Award goes to leaders and innovators who have made major contributions to the development of the MI and Pro Audio industry," said Gerald Dellmann, CEO of MM-Musik-Media-Verlag.
Hartley Peavey is one of only 10 people honoured by this award to date: previous winners include Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland Corporation; Tsutomu Katoh, founder of Korg; Dr. Fritz Sennheiser, founder of Sennheiser Corporation; and Jim Marshall, founder of Marshall Amplification.
During his acceptance speech, in addition to thanking the press who had voted for him, Peavey acknowledged all those who have accompanied him throughout the last 45 years, and in particular Peavey's development teams throughout the world that have helped turn so many product ideas into successful commercial realities. He also noted that the key to his success is his "can-do" attitude.
"All my life I've been told, 'You can't do that - you're crazy!'" he said. "Well, I'll admit to being crazy, but you CAN do it . . . but you won't do it if you don't try!" He concluded with an assurance that Peavey intends to remain at the forefront of technological innovation for many years to come. "The fat lady hasn't sung yet with Peavey!"
(Jim Evans)
