On Monday, John Grado, the visionary behind beautifully hand-crafted open-back headphones, received the Founder’s Award from Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society.
John Grado Receives Founder’s Award from Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society
This honor is the highest awarded by the society. It is bestowed upon individuals who continue to advance fine musical reproduction in the home and distinguish themselves as the best in their profession.
Grado was raised in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrant parents. At the age of 12 he started working in a factory – sweeping floors and running errands. That early start taught him how to run a business and he eventually launched Grado Labs – the producer of fine audiophile-friendly headphones – in Brooklyn, of course.
Grado Labs is rooted in family values and history. John and Loretta Grado have two sons, Matthew and Jonathan. Jonathan is Vice President of Grado Labs carrying on the family tradition. Matthew will be joining Grado Labs as soon as he graduates from college.
Grado Labs now produces a full and immense product line of headphones which are respected for their performance and for the fact that they are handcrafted in Brooklyn, NY. Every model of the extensive headphone line-up has been invented and introduced by John Grado.
John Grado will be officially awarded the Founder’s Award at the 24th Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles, California on December 3, 2017. The trophy that will be awarded to Grado is specially produced by the same company that created the Oscar for The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Other previous winners include Harry Pearson, Founder The Absolute Sound, Dave Clark, Editor Positive Feedback Online, Dennis Had, Founder Cary Audio, David Robinson, Editor in Chief Positive Feedback Online, and Ray Kimber, President Kimber Kable.
