Curb Records Founder and Chairman Mike Curb will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Association of Independent Music’s (A2IM) Libera Awards.
Designed to celebrate the US independent music industry, the fifth annual awards show will take place at Manhattan Center’s Grand Ballroom on Thursday, June 16th.
Curb Records launched in 1962, and has had more than 300 No.1 records with acts including Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr. and the Four Seasons.
Curb has had a hands-on presence throughout the label’s history and continues to be involved in the company today.
He’s also a prolific songwriter and award-winning producer, having written more than 400 songs for musicians including Roy Orbison, Sammy Davis Jr., The Osmond Brothers, The Ventures, and Solomon Burke.
In 1972, Curb was the winner of Billboard‘s Overall Producer of the Year Award. He’s also the Chairman of the Mike Curb Family Foundation and Chairman and owner of gospel music powerhouse Word Entertainment, which was named Billboard’s Overall Top Imprint for gospel in 2006.
Outside of music, Curb served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979 to 1983 and was acting Governor from 1979 to 1980.
The veteran exec has stars on the Hollywood and Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, Georgia Hall of Fame, National Business Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame.
“Mike Curb is unique, one of a kind, and in a class of his own. It is difficult to conceive how anyone can achieve so much in one lifetime. In short, Mike is a complete game-changer to whom we will all be forever grateful for his immeasurable contribution.”
Richard burgess, a2im
Said A2IM CEO Richard Burgess: “Mike Curb is unique, one of a kind, and in a class of his own. He is not only revered for his diverse career as a label-owner, top-charting songwriter, producer, and for being Lieutenant Governor of California.
“He has preserved ten of Nashville’s most historic music industry landmarks while championing music business education and being inducted into several Halls of Fame.
“It is difficult to conceive how anyone can achieve so much in one lifetime. In short, Mike is a complete game-changer to whom we will all be forever grateful for his immeasurable contribution and it is our honour to present him with this award.”
Curb added: “For the last decade A2IM has represented the independently owned music enterprises and has elevated the independent companies significantly. A2IM has allowed all of us to speak with one voice at a time when the music industry has been extremely challenging.
“Dr. Richard Burgess is leading us into the next decade which will present even more challenges and more importantly, incredible opportunities. I am proud to be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award on the tenth anniversary of A2IM.”
Previous recipients of the A2IM Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award are Pat Chin, VP Records (2015), Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records (2014), Tom Silverman, TommY BoY (2013) and Martin Mills, Beggars Group (2012).
The Libera Awards are presented by SoundExchange and hosted by Ted Leo. Other nominees include Courtney Barnett, Kamasi Washington, ATO Records, and 4AD.
Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange, said: “Mike Curb has fundamentally changed our industry and the Nashville music scene for the better.
“His tremendous philanthropic endeavours aid underprivileged communities and provide music education to so many deserving young artists.
“As music fans we are all indebted to him for discovering and developing so many artists that we love. SoundExchange is proud to have an opportunity to work with such an incredible leader in the industry. Mike is a legend and this remarkable honour is well-deserved.”
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