Townshend, Foos: TEC Award Winners

The Who's Pete Townshend was honored, and Foo Fighters won two of the three Creative Awards for musicians, at the 28th annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards Friday at The NAMM Show in Anaheim.

Townshend received the Les Paul Award, for excellence in the creative use of recording technology. Speaking to a ballroom filled with music biz techies, Towenshend said, "You fabulous people made it possible for me to do what I do and as a musician and composer, I sincerely want to thank you."

After getting his award, Townshend was given a four-song tribute that included:

•Former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber performing an acoustic intro to a version of "Won't Get Fooled Again," sung by 20-year-old Bree Kennedy.
•Ex-Animal Eric Burdon singing "The Seeker."
•Solo singer Julia Fordham crooning "The Song Is Over," with a solo by drummer (and producer) Narada Michael Walden.
•Ambrosia frontman David Pack leading the ensemble in "Let My Love Open the Door," with Townshend joining them to sing the final two verses.

Most of the evening was spent on a procession of awards honoring the technical aspects of music making. Three awards are given to artists and Foo Fighters took home two of them, for Tour Sound Production and Record Production/Album, for Wasting Light. Record Production/Single went to Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know."

Also making an appearance was Slash, who introduced TEC Hall of Fame inductee Rose Mann Cherney, longtime studio manager at L.A.'s Record Plant. Slash credited Cherney with "always managing to corral me and my...associates."

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Sebastian, formerly of The Lovin' Spoonful, who'd shared the Woodstock stage with Townshend and The Who, emceed the evening.