The night before NAMM 2016 kicked off in Anaheim, California, Roland presented its first Lifetime Achievement Awards to pioneering guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and the production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Baxter, who now works as a defense expert, has played with everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Steely Dan to The Doobie Brothers. As you well know Jam and Lewis are renowned pop/R&B producers who’ve crafted albums for Prince, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson and countless other musical icons.
Obligatory press release gush from Roland President & CEO Jay Wanamaker: “The Roland Lifetime Achievement Award was created to honor true innovators for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the music industry and their long-time association with our company and its brands. We present these awards to Jeff “Skunk” Baxter for his body of work and contributions to our Roland and BOSS guitar products, and to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for helping to define Roland’s iconic sound and decades of making indelible music using our keyboards, sound modules and drum machines. You are truly part of the Roland family and continue to be on the cutting edge of the music scene. We thank you for your contributions to Roland and to music and the recording arts.”
Baxter can be seen in a product demo putting Roland’s new Blues Cube Hot Guitar Amplifier through its paces. Watch him make his guitar sing.