Our fearless leader was awarded at Whatzup Magazine's annual Whammy's a couple weeks ago. Here's a snippet from our news release:

One Lucky Guitar, Inc. owner Matt Kelley receives WHATZUP Whammy 2010 Special Achievement Award

FORT WAYNE, IND. – The 2010 Whammy Awards, presented by WHATZUP magazine, included a Special Achievement award, presented to One Lucky Guitar owner, Matt Kelley.

This year marked the 10th year for the awards, held each year at Piere’s to honor the local music, entertainment and personalities that make up Fort Wayne’s artistically rich cultural scene. WHATZUP readers vote on the annual Whammy awards in categories such as Favorite Radio Personality, Best New Performer, Best Singer/Songwriter and Best Visual Performer of the Year.

Kelley is one of only a handful of people in the Whammy Awards’ history to ever receive the honor. He now joins the ranks of such distinguished past recipients as Chuck Surack, Richard Reprogle and Doc West. Kelley was presented his Whammy by Greg Locke and fellow One Lucky Guitar employee Nate Utesch.

"It's really flattering to win this award,” said Kelley. “I really feel that I've succeeded most in surrounding myself with great, talented people, be it at One Lucky Guitar with my co-workers and clients, or in the Trainhoppers, or, most importantly, at home. It's also refreshing to be part of a city and scene that seems to genuinely believe in its own resurgence."

Kelley is viewed by many as a figurehead of the local music scene having helped curate and promote such events as Down the Line, Dessert, Wayne Calhoun Troubadour Series, Flatpick Music Revue, and playing in such bands as Go Dog Go and The Legendary Trainhoppers, and working creatively with national and local artists by designing posters, album covers, t-shirts and more.