The Les Paul Foundation, whose mission is to honor and share the life, spirit and legacy of Les Paul through the generations has announced the Les Paul Spirit Award. The prestigious award will be presented annually beginning this June to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the late, great Les Paul through innovation, engineering, technology and/or music. In addition to the award, a grant from the Les Paul Foundation and Bonnaroo Works Fund will be made in the honoree's name to the charity of their choice which aligns with the mission of the Les Paul Foundation. The Les Paul Foundation has partnered with Bonnaroo Works Fund to present this year's award at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival with a commitment to hold future awards presentations at the popular music festival in Manchester, for several years to come.

Legendary founding member of the Grateful Dead and music industry icon, Bob Weir, has been named the first honoree for the Les Paul Spirit Award. As The Grateful Dead co-lead vocalist with Jerry Garcia, Weir wrote a number of iconic songs including "The Other One," "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," and "Throwing Stones." The Grateful Dead were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

In addition to the presentation of the first annual Les Paul Spirit Award, The foundation has partnered with Bonnaroo Works Fund on several new activations on-site at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. The Les Paul Foundation will host an official Les Paul Jam Session at the Bonnaroo Works Fund Community Center each day. Guests can play guitar along with Les and experience the new Les Paul Foundation website.

Weir will be honored on Sunday, June 12, 2016 at the festival.

Remaining members of the Grateful Dead including Weir have joined forces with singer/guitarist John Mayer and others to form the band Dead & Company. They'll close out this year's Bonnaroo from 8pm-12 midnight on Sunday.