Jessica Bliss

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Before Dead & Company closes out Bonnaroo with two sets on Sunday night, there will be a special presentation for one of its members.

Music industry icon Bob Weir — founding member of the Grateful Dead — will be the first honoree to receive the Les Paul Spirit Award.

Beginning this year, the award will be presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and music.

Weir, who sang alongside Jerry Garcia, wrote a number of iconic songs, including “The Other One,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Playing in the Band” and “Throwing Stones.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted the band in 1994. The Dead received Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

In 2015, Weir, along with former Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, joined forces with Grammy-winning singer and guitarist John Mayer to form Dead & Company. Allman Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge and Fare Thee Well and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti are also part of the newly formed band.

Dead & Company began its inaugural nationwide tour last fall, kicking off with two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden. It has now played more than nine sellouts.

Like Paul — one of the pioneer designers of the solid-body electric guitar — Weir has experimented with new technologies and music trends, as seen in his multimillion-dollar recording and broadcast facility in California called TRI Studios.

“I cannot think of anyone more fitting to be honored with the first annual Les Paul Spirit Award than Bob Weir," said Michael Braunstein, executive director of The Les Paul Foundation, in a media release. "Not only is he an extraordinary talent who has given us an amazing array of legendary music, but he is an innovator who understands music, technologies and the spirit of Les Paul.

“If Les were still alive today, I have absolutely no doubt that he and Bob would be experimenting together at TRI Studios or at Les’ house and the results would be extraordinary."

Weir will be honored at an invitation-only Bonnaroo Works Fund fundraiser “Bonnaroo Eats & Greets” on Sunday afternoon backstage at the festival. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation and Bonnaroo Works Fund will be made in the Weir's name to the charity of his choice. Weir has chosen The Grammy Foundation.

There will also be several new Les Paul Foundation-inspired activities at Bonnaroo.

The foundation will host a Les Paul Jam Session at the Bonnaroo Works Fund Community Center each day. It will also unveil new Les Paul merchandise to be sold in Centeroo. Other activities include meet-and-greets with artists and video testimonials.

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Reach Jessica Bliss at 615-259-8253 and on Twitter @jlbliss.