Highway To The NAMM Show

Multi-GRAMMY winner, composer and performer Kenny Loggins has been presented with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) “Music for Life” award at The 2022 NAMM Show. NAMM’s highest industry honour, the award was given at the opening Breakfast of Champions session in celebration of Loggins’ lifelong commitment to inspiring music makers everywhere.

NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond interviewed and presented the award to Loggins, who spoke of his career, dedication and work to music-making causes and his first guitar. “I went into Pedrini School of Music in Alhambra [California], and I bought my first classical music from there, and I bought my first electric guitar there, when I was a junior in high school. All the kids in my neighbourhood, we all had the same dream — to be the next big thing.”

On his advice for the next generation of musicians, Loggins offered, “As far as music goes, music is in our DNA. When I’m working with young artists, we’re talking about the love of music, its role, and its importance in our lives.”

Loggins has a long history of using music to impact society in positive ways. He was the first major rock star to record music dedicated to children and families for his Return to Pooh Corner album, which still holds the title of best-selling children’s album of the last 20 years. He has given numerous hours serving Little Kids Rock, Make a Wish, as well as many organisations that encourage the importance of music in society. In 2018, he helped re-open the original Notes for Notes (N4N) Studios at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara and United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County, giving over six hundred kids each year access recording, learning, and playing instruments.

His music has become the soundtrack of our lives with chart-topping hits like “This is It,” “I’m Alright,” “Footloose,” and the driving hit “Danger Zone,” which is back on the radio with the release of the film Top Gun: Maverick. Loggins has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide and has won two Grammy Awards.

His new memoir, Still Alright, hits stands on June 14 (Hachette Books), and he will follow with a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in July that will feature collaborator Jim Messina, marking 50 years since the first time they played the venue together.

The “Music for Life” award is NAMM’s highest honour and recognises individuals or organisations that exemplify NAMM’s vision of music making as a precious element of daily living for everyone. Past recipients have included business leaders, public officials, and musicians, including Quincy Jones, Jason Mraz, Graham Nash, Stevie Wonder, Yoko Ono, Henry Mancini, Bob Weir, Nancy Wilson, among others. The award was given on the opening day of The NAMM Show, the global music, pro audio and entertainment technology gathering, held in Anaheim June 3-5.