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GRAMMY MUSEUM® GRANT SUPPORTS ARHOOLIE FOUNDATION

FUNDS WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ARCHIVING AND PRESERVATION OF STRACHWITZ TAPE COLLECTION

GRAMMY MUSEUM®

(JUNE, 2022) — The GRAMMY Museum® Grant Program announced $200,000 in grants will be awarded to 16 recipients in the United States to help facilitate a range of research on a variety of subjects, as well as support a number of archiving and preservation programs. The Arhoolie Foundation was fortunate to be among the organizations selected to be funded.

“This year marks the 35th year that the GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy® have partnered to provide much deserved funding for music research and preservation projects across the United States and Canada. During that time, we have awarded more than $8.1 million to nearly 465 grantees,” said Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Museum. “As an educational and cultural nonprofit institution, we know firsthand how critical grant funding is in order to deliver measurable results and impact through our mission. This is why we’re proud to support these impressive projects that are at the intersection of music and science, and work to maintain our shared musical legacy for generations to come.”

Generously funded by the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Museum Grant Program provides funding annually to organizations and individuals to support efforts that advance the archiving and preservation of the recorded sound heritage of the Americas for future generations, in addition to research projects related to the impact of music on the human condition.

“The GRAMMY Museum® has been a great partner of the Arhoolie Foundation through many of our projects, and we are grateful for their support,” said John Leopold, Managing Director of the Arhoolie Foundation. This grant will help preserve the remaining parts of the Chris Strachwitz reel-to-reel tape collection, featuring live performances, radio broadcasts, and studio outtakes dating back to the early 1960s. Past grants have supported the preservation of the Arhoolie Foundation’s Frontera Collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings.

More information can be found at www.grammymuseum.org.


Statement on the passing of Chris Strachwitz

Arhoolie Records Founder
July 1, 1931 – May 5, 2023

We celebrate the life of our founder, friend, and great record man Chris Strachwitz. He died peacefully at home in Marin County, CA, surrounded in his last days by dear friends and family. Over his 91 years, Chris captured the music that represents the best “down home music” the world has to offer.

He was at the forefront of nearly all the roots revivals over the last 60 years including blues, zydeco, Cajun, Norteño and Tejano music. His drive to document traditional music helped introduce the nation to our diverse musical heritage. He had the foresight to save music that might have otherwise been lost to obscurity and played a role in strengthening cultural traditions through his records, films, and most recently the Arhoolie Foundation. He cared for those around him, fought for royalties and recognition for Arhoolie artists, and provided counsel to countless musicians, writers, film makers, and academics.

Plans for a public celebration of his life will be announced in the coming weeks. Today we’re thinking of all that Chris brought to our lives and the lives of the musicians and fans with whom he shared his passion.