In many categories of music there is one person or group whose name and talent
are synonymous with the style and the scene. These artists have become the royalty
of their genre.
This year, the Washington Area Music Association has decided to
create a new Wammie award in which these music legends can best be honored. The
Emeritus award is presented to those musicians, who over the years, have repeatedly
been the award recipient in their category.
The Emeritus Award is our way of
expressing to those talented artists our appreciation of their immeasurable
contributions to our music scene and to the world. They are indeed in a category
unto themselves.
In presenting the Emeritus award, WAMA is also paving the way for
the successors in that category's musical lineage. The new heirs apparent will be
given a chance to emerge and the legacy of the music will continue to evolve.