Dinah and Fred Gretsch Receive Georgia Governor’s Award

Industry Icons Honored For Contributions To The Arts

Dinah and Fred Gretsch (center) with Georgia governor and first lady Nathan and Sandra Deal following the presentation of the Governor’s Award For The Arts.  Photo: Spark St. Jude/MagicOnFilm.

On Tuesday, October 7 Fred and Dinah Gretsch (president and CFO, respectively, of The Gretsch Company) were honored as recipients of the third annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities. Presented by the Office of The Governor in partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts and the Georgia Humanities Council, the award recognized the Gretsches for their significant contributions to Georgia’s civic and cultural vitality through service to the humanities or excellence in the arts. The awards program was held at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.

As members of Georgia’s arts and humanities community, Fred and Dinah Gretsch were among a select group chosen from among dozens of nominations from around the state. These recipients represent a diverse group of individuals and organizations that have laid the groundwork for Georgia’s growing creative industry through innovative programs, community collaboration and long-term financial commitment.

Commenting on the awards, Georgia governor Nathan Deal said, “Georgia’s arts and humanities sectors propel our state forward by improving quality of life for the citizens and businesses of our state. The individuals and organizations honored here today are committed to growing and sustaining Georgia’s vibrant culture and history, and I am grateful for their significant contributions to our state.”

Reflecting on her feelings at receiving this prestigious award, Dinah Gretsch says, “We are very humbled, and grateful that we are able to do this for the music industry.” Fred Gretsch adds, “It was a special pleasure to meet with first lady Sandra Deal. She has visited schools in every county in Georgia promoting education—and Georgia has the most counties of any state in the union. In keeping with our personal goal of ‘enriching lives through participation in music,’ we’d love to see Georgia step forward as the most musical state in the USA!”

Gretsch guitar artist “Hot Rod Walt” Richards provided entertainment from the steps of the Capitol Rotunda. Photo: Spark St. Jude/MagicOnFilm.

Following the ceremony, a reception for award recipients and their guests was held in the Capitol Rotunda. Entertainment was provided by Gretsch guitar artist “Hot Rod Walt” Richards.  See video of award and performance below.

About Fred and Dinah Gretsch

In addition to being key figures in the music industry for more than thirty years, Fred and Dinah Gretsch have been—and continue to be—tireless advocates of music education and outreach programs, both within the state of Georgia and on a national level. To this end they created the Gretsch Foundation, which has a long history of helping schools and promoting music participation through grants, scholarships, and fund-raising efforts.

In 2003 the Atlanta Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presented Fred and Dinah with the organization’s Heroes Award, which is given to recognize individuals who have improved the environment for the creative community. In 2008 Fred and Dinah’s ongoing accomplishments earned them induction into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Acting on her belief that music has the power to change children’s lives in a positive way, in 2010 Dinah Gretsch created the Mrs. G’s Music Foundation to help support music teachers and in-school programs in Savannah-area schools. The Mrs. G’s Foundation also sponsors a Visiting Artist program, presenting top contemporary musicians in seminars, workshops, and concerts. And a 50/50 funding partnership with North Carolina’s “Music For Learning” program has put music education into six different Head Start daycare centers in Savannah.

In January of 2014 Dinah was honored by the Women’s International Music Network (WiMN) with the organization’s 2014 She Rocks Award. As a leader in the music industry, Dinah was recognized for her unique talents, accomplishments, and philanthropic works.

In February of 2014 The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Georgia Southern University named Fred and Dinah Gretsch as the 2014 Betty Foy Sanders Patrons of the Arts in recognition of their ongoing support of music education. This award recognizes community members who best demonstrate the dedication required to make fine arts programming successful.

In May of 2014 Fred and Dinah Gretsch were chosen by the GRAMMY Foundation to present the Savannah Arts Academy with a GRAMMY Signature Schools Enterprise Award. The Signature Schools program honors public high schools for outstanding commitment to their music education programs. The GRAMMY foundation considered Fred and Dinah Gretsch to be uniquely suited to act as presenters of this important award.