Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Ritchie Blackmore, the renowned guitar legend with a career spanning over 60 years, has been honored with the National GUITAR Museum’s annual “Lifetime Achievement” Award, as reported by Blabbermouth. Blackmore is the award’s seventeenth recipient. In addition to Honeyboy Edwards, Jeff Beck, Bonnie Raitt, Liona Boyd, Jose Feliciano, and B.B. King, Ritchie Blackmore is the latest recipient of an award. Recipients are honored for their lifelong contributions to the guitar’s heritage and for their unique historical significance in the instrument’s evolution and appreciation.
Most people know Ritchie from being the driving creative force behind two of the defining hard rock bands of all time — Deep Purple and Rainbow. But before starting those bands, he had a long career as a London session musician, performing on records by numerous artists, including The Outlaws. And then — after helping to define hard rock guitar in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s — he formed Blackmore’s Night, incorporating medieval and Renaissance acoustic music into his immense repertoire. – HP Newquist, The National GUITAR Museum executive director
I’m rather thrown by the magnitude of this honorable award. I am grateful to accept this award and this recognition. – Ritchie Blackmore
Previous recipients:
2010: David Honeyboy Edwards
2011: Roger McGuinn
2012: B.B. King
2013: Vic Flick
2014: Buddy Guy
2015: Tony Iommi
2016: Glen Campbell
2017: Bonnie Raitt
2018: Liona Boyd
2019: Jose Feliciano
2020: Eddie Van Halen (in memoriam)
2021: Al Di Meola
2022: Jeff Beck
2023: Tommy Emmanuel
2024: Alex Lifeson
2025: Ritchie Blackmore
The only museum in the world devoted to the history, development, and cultural influence of the guitar is the National Guitar Museum. More than 60 museums throughout the world have shown its traveling exhibits. These exhibits will serve as the foundation for The National Guitar Museum and its permanent location in the upcoming year.
