Prestigious List of Influential Music Industry Colleagues Makes Up New Advisory Council
The Les Paul Advisory Council members are K-Pop producer Alawn; Grammy winning artist and guitarist Peter Frampton; Musician and Composer Brian Hardgroove; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Joan Jett; CEO of TMWRK Management Andrew McInnes; Department of Recording Industry Chair at Middle Tennessee State University John Merchant; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and Les Paul’s Godson Steve Miller; Multi-instrumentalist/producer and Assistant Arts Professor and Area Head of Musicianship at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music Jeff Peretz; Three-time Grammy winner singer, songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers; Guitarist and Recording Artist Slash; Singer/songwriter and producer Richie Sambora and record producer and music executive Don Was.
“The individuals who have joined the Les Paul Foundation Advisory Council are a prestigious and influential group of music industry artists, educators, executives and friends. The names we announced today are a fitting tribute to Les. We look forward to their ideas and are thankful for their commitment to helping us share the historic legacy of such a great man, our friend Les Paul.” – Michael Braunstein, Executive Director, Les Paul Foundation
Andrew McInnes is CEO of TMWRK Management, a music management company that handles a diverse roster of globally influential DJs, producers, and recording artists. Andrew co-founded TMWRK in 2011 after successfully running his own management outfit alongside his A&R role at Epic Records, and formerly worked at Columbia Records as an A&R scout. TMWRK is a management collective who’s roster currently includes A-Trak, Animal Collective, Dillon Francis, Diplo, Major Lazer, Sturgill Simpson, Turnpike Troubadours, TV On The Radio, and many other accomplished artists. In addition to TMWRK Management, Andrew also heads TMWRK Records which includes a curated roster of artists across genres and is a partner in Canopy Media Group who manages an array of writers, directors, and actors.
Joan Jett is an originator, an innovator and a visionary. As the leader of the hard-rocking Blackhearts, with whom she has become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, she’s had eight platinum and gold albums and nine Top 40 singles including the classics “Bad Reputation,” “I Love Rock n’ Roll, “I Hate Myself for Loving You” and “Crimson and Clover.” Her independent record label Blackheart was founded in 1980 and is the longest running Indie label. Jett was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 CLIO Music Awards. She continues to be a figurehead for several generations of female rockers.
Steve Miller has been an enlivening presence on the American music scene for more than half a century. He also holds the distinction of being Les Paul’s godson. His music has sold tens of millions of records and has been streamed several billion times. Miller’s Greatest Hits (1974-78) received the RIAA Diamond Award with sales of more than fifteen million copies. It is among the top selling 25 albums of all time. Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and has been elected into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2022.