Each year since 1982 the National Endowment for the Arts celebrates nine American artists with this award. The National Heritage Fellowship for Excellence in Traditional Arts is the highest honor an American artist can receive in their lifetime. The NEA produced a short interview documentary about RL.
A beautiful tribute filmed in Como, Ms over Labor Day weekend at RL’s last picnic and many of local haunts. RL had not shared with anybody how ill he was except in his song heard in throughout the documentary. Big Blues Mane you are missed beyond measure.