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Don Peake at his Musicians Hall of Fame induction
Recognition

The Work
Was Heard.

Honors, release certifications, and milestones connected to Don Peake’s work as a guitarist, arranger, producer, and composer.

Browse Recognition
Personal honors

Milestones and recognition.

Musicians Hall of Fame

2007

Inducted as a member of The Wrecking Crew in Nashville.

Iconic Riff Award

Recognized for the iconic opening guitar part on Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On.’

Crown Guitar

2005

Don’s custom Crown guitar entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Permanent Collection of Iconic Guitars.

Golden Addy Award

1990

Awarded for composing the music for Northern Natural Gas’ ‘Whistling Teakettles’ campaign.

Screen and commercial honors

Awards connected to the work.

Violet

Academy Award winner

Don composed the music for the Academy Award-winning live-action short film.

In the Region of Ice

Academy Award winner

Don composed the music for the Academy Award-winning live-action short film.

Leon's Case

Golden Hugo Award

A short-film scoring credit associated with the Golden Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival.

The Bulkin Trail

Multiple honors

Associated with the Golden Eagle Award, Christopher Award, and Bronze Apple.

Strange Fruit

Academy Award nomination

A short-film scoring credit connected to the Best Short Subject, Live Action nomination.

Gold and Platinum releases

Records that carry the work.

These entries describe release certifications connected to Don’s guitar, arranging, production, or composing work. They are release milestones, separate from personal honors.

Sonny & Cher — I Got You Babe

Guitar Gold

Jermaine Jackson — Let’s Get Serious

Arranger Gold LP

Gloria Gaynor — Love Tracks

Arranger Platinum LP

The Monkees — Selected LP credit

Session guitarist / arranger Gold LP

Minnie Riperton — Stay in Love

Arranger Gold LP

Barry White — Selected albums

Guitarist / orchestrator Three Gold LPs

Bobby Darin — If I Were a Carpenter

Arranger Gold

Tim Hardin — Selected album credit

Arranger Gold album

Tavares — Don’t Take Away the Music

Arranger Gold

Ray Parker Jr. — Ghostbusters

Production assistance Platinum

Wayne Newton — Selected release

Arranger Gold LP

The Breakin’ soundtrack — Breakin’

Contributing composer Platinum
Closing background
From the Archive

“The day I auditioned for Ray Charles, they called me and they said, ‘Hey, we're looking for a guitar player.’ And I said, ‘I'm white.’” — Don Peake, Ray Charles interview

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