The winner of the 2006 Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award is lighting designer Allen Branton, a 33-year veteran of entertainment lighting with hundreds of projects to his credit. The 2006 “Wally” was presented as part of the LDI awards ceremony on Saturday, October 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
A leading concert and television lighting designer, Branton is unquestionably at the top of his game. Beginning in 1991, he designed dozens of episodes of MTV's UNplugged music series (a 1993 CableACE lighting nominee); and since 1989, their prestigious Video Music Awards (1993 CableACE winner for lighting). Recent television productions include the Halftime celebrations for the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowls, VH1's Save The Music in 2005, Chris Rock's Bring the Pain, and the MTV Movie Awards from 1992 to present. Though television has claimed his attention in recent years, Branton continued to work as a concert lighting designer through 2000. His touring clients since 1980 include The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Paul Simon, Vince Gill, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, and Bette Midler.
This year, the Wally Newcomer Award was reinstated and presented to Charles Kirby of Thematics, the father of Lightbox, an LED and fiber optic model lighting kit for theatre.
For additional information on the Wally Russell Foundation and its various activities: www.wallyfund.org