22nd Annual Parnelli Awards

Audio Innovator Buford Jones with Visionary Honoree Carol Dodds and Lifetime Achievement Honoree Jim Brammer. Photo by Kathy Eddy

The 22^nd annual Parnelli Awards welcomed the live entertainment production industry to the sold-out dinner event which took place at the Anaheim Convention Center on Friday, January 26 during NAMM 2024.

Terry Lowe, Parnelli Awards Executive Producer and Co-Founder. Photo by Jen Gray

Terry Lowe, President of Timeless Communications, publisher of PLSN and FOH magazines, welcomed the capacity crowd of close to 700 — second only to the January 2020 ceremony in total size — as Executive Producer and Co-Founder (with the late Patrick Stansfield) of the event. There was an array of creatives, technicians, as well as manufacturers, vendors, and rental houses present to honor the backstage professionals who worked on some of the biggest concert tours and live events during the past year. This year’s list of nominees were a diverse industry cross section from early career through to time tested veterans, with many of this year’s biggest tours and events represented — Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Luke Combs, P!nk, and U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.

Patti Conners Thurston and Visionary Award Honoree Carol Dodds. Photo by Kathy Eddy

This year’s Parnelli Awards featured three awards for career achievement, with the Visionary Award, going to pioneering Video Director Carol Dodds, who since the 1970s has worked with a wide range of artists including Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Jimmy Buffett. Patti Conners Thurston did the honors in presenting Dodds with her Visionary Award.

Michael Brammer and Lifetime Achievement Honoree Jim Brammer. Photo by Kathy Eddy

The Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jim Brammer, CEO of Special Event Services by his son, Michael Brammer. Brammer built his company over the years to include lighting, video, audio, as well as staging, rigging, and trucking. He recently expanded by creating Concert Stuff Group and 360 Festivals with Music Matters Productions.

Audio Innovator Honoree Buford Jones and Helen Meyers. Photo by Kathy Eddy

The Parnelli Awards also honored the career achievements of Buford Jones with the Audio Innovator Award. Meyer Sound Co-Founder Helen Meyer presented Jones with his Audio Innovator Award. The other Parnelli Award presenters were FOH Engineer Jim Ebdon, Tour Manager/Accountant David “5.1” Norman, Tour Manager Stuart Ross and Lighting Designer/Programmer Vanessa Arciga.