Les Paul – 2004
Wisconsin Foundation for School Music presented its first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award to Les Paul in 2004. Les returned to Wisconsin to receive the award and was celebrated by many, including musicians Steve Miller and Ben Sidran, State Superintendent Libby Burmaster, Governor Jim Doyle, and other music enthusiasts across the state.

Born June 9, 1915 in Waukesha, Wis., Les Paul has fostered a lifetime of musical achievements. His performing career began at the early age of 13 and by the 1950s, he was recognized as the greatest jazz guitarist of his generation. The Les Paul Trio, which included his talented wife Mary Ford, produced such hits as "Vaya Con Dios," "Mockin' Bird Hill," "How High the Moon" and "Tennessee Waltz."

As an inventor, Les Paul's breakthrough creation of the solid-body electric guitar paved the way for rock and roll. He also perfected the first multi-track recording machine, allowing separate lines of instrumental music and vocals to be blended together. His many recording innovations – including reverb effects, sound-on-sound, overdubbing and multi-tracking – have contributed immensely to the world of music.

Les Paul gave a donation of $25,000 to WFSM in 2007 for support of music education in Wisconsin. He is honored by WFSM at the Wisconsin Center for Music Education in the Les Paul Atrium.

Les Paul will always have a special place in our hearts, and we are forever grateful that we had the opportunity to know him, honor him and welcome him back to Wisconsin.

"When I got my first guitar my fingers wouldn't go to the sixth string so I took off the big E and played with just five strings. I was only 6 or 7."

"And there's a big bay window in my house, and that window stayed perfectly still until that train started to chug. At a certain speed, I could reach up and feel the pane, and that glass pane would vibrate. I said, Doggone, there's got to be a reason for this. So I go to the kindergarten teacher, and she takes me to the science teacher, and the science teacher takes me to the library and reads it off to me — "This is called resonance." That was the beginning."

Les Paul: American musician and innovator, regarded as the father of the electric guitar. Born Lester William Polsfus on June 9, 1915, he died on August 13, 2009.

"On, Wisconsin!"

Michael Leckrone – 2007
On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Wisconsin Foundation for School Music (WFSM) presented its second-ever Lifetime Achievement Award in Music to Mike Leckrone, UW-Madison Music Professor and Director of Bands.

Highlights of the evening included speeches from Dr. Grant Manhart, Dr. Frank Tracz, former UW athletic director Pat Richter, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster, and Tom Wopat.  Performances throughout the evening included UW band alumni, VSA arts of Wisconsin choir, and the UW Marching Band drum line.  Katy Sai served as the evening's emcee.  A special commemorative video was shown and a proclamation declaring November 14, 2007 "Mike Leckrone Day" in Wisconsin was read. 

Mike Leckrone deserved this prestigious award because:

• He has energetically inspired countless people of all ages and abilities to make music an integral part of their lives.
• He exemplifies that the study of music develops creativity, self-expression, discipline and teamwork.
• He is an icon for musical excellence and through his energy, inspires others to reach for the same high standard in whatever they do.
• As a leader, Mike Leckrone has strongly influenced generations of people throughout the state (and beyond) to study music and/or become supporters of music education.
• He brings the "wow factor" to music education.