GC INDUCTS PRS FOUNDER INTO ROCKWALK G uitar Center honored Paul Reed Smith, founder and managing general partner
induction. Smith then addressed the audience and commemorated the honor by placing his hands in cement as part of Guitar Center’s traditional Rockwalk ceremony. Smith’s hand- prints will travel back to Hollywood, where they will be permanently installed in Guitar Center’s Rockwalk outside its flagship Hol- lywood store. Holding the induction during Crossroads celebrated the full ecosystem of guitar culture, bringing together builders, players and fans around a shared appreciation for the guitar and the people shaping its future. Smith’s career has been deeply connected to working musicians, from Carlos Santana’s early support of PRS to his longstanding collaboration with Mayer and other influential players. Mayer’s role in the induction reflected that relationship. “This is a truly special day. I am thankful to Gabe and the entire team at Guitar Cen- ter for presenting this. The Rockwalk is an iconic part of our industry, and to be part of that history is an honor,” Smith said. {guitarcenter.com}
of PRS Guitars, with an induction into the Guitar Center Rockwalk on Sept. 26, during Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026 in Austin, Texas. The honor recognizes Smith’s five decades of craftsmanship and innovation as a guitar maker. Founded in 1985, PRS Guitars has grown from Smith’s one-man pursuit into the third- largest electric guitar manufacturer in the U.S., establishing a modern guitar company with its own unmistakable identity, design philosophy and following. “Paul is obsessive about building the per- fect guitar — and I mean that as the highest compliment. He has spent his life questioning every assumption about how a guitar should sound, feel and perform, and then doing the hard work to make it better. That obsession has materially moved the electric guitar forward and raised the bar for the entire industry,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center. “Paul is a living legend whose influence spans gen-
erations of musicians and instrument makers, and we’re proud to honor him with a place in Guitar Center’s Rockwalk.” The induction took place at the Dell West Plaza on the Rockwalk Stage during Eric Clap- ton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026, begin- ning with a live performance by Isaac Holmes. Dalporto opened the ceremony before PRS artist John Mayer introduced Smith for his Artist John Mayer looks on as Rockwalk inductee Paul Reed Smith places his hands in cement as part of GC’s Rockwalk ceremony.
18 I MUSIC INC. I NOVEMBER 2026
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