Winners in 23 technical and eight creative excellence categories were announced at the 35^th Annual NAMM TEC AWARDS, Saturday, January 18, from the global NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Presented by The NAMM Foundation and held annually, the event recognizes the exemplary achievements and innovations behind the sound of recordings, live performances, films, television, video games and multi-media. Comedian, actor and musician Fred Armisen took to the podium to host.

Innovative producer, songwriter and artist Joni Mitchell was given one of the night’s most anticipated honors from

The Les Paul Foundation: The Les Paul Innovation Award. The Foundation’s Executive Director Michael Braunstein introduced the award and called Mitchell “a true renaissance woman,” while

pianist/composer Herbie Hancock presented the award to Mitchell and noted “it’s hard to imagine a world without this courageous woman’s brave songs and records.”