“Don loved AFTRA more than anyone could possibly know,” WhitakerLaFontaine said. “As he used to say, ‘My admiration for AFTRA and AFTRA members cannot be overstated.’ “He was always proud to be an AFTRA member and work under AFTRA contracts. This award is a true blessing and I am very honored to accept it on his behalf,” she added. The AMEES recognize members of AFTRA, the people who entertain and inform America, who have made a significant contribution to American culture. The AMEES were created in 2003 to honor AFTRA to his
members memb me mb ber erss fo forr excellence their craft their exce ex ellence ce iin n th thei eirr cr raf aft an and d th thei eirr ei contributions to the fields of media and entertainment. Proceeds from the 2009 AMEE Awards go to benefit the AFTRA Foundation. To learn more about the work of the AFTRA Foundation and to make a charitable donation, please visit www.aftra.com/foundation.
Nita Whi taker-LaF ontaine, w (L) and E ith daught lyse (R), ers Skye said her la LaFontain te husban e, cherishe d, Don d AFTRA and the w ork the union does .
Spring 2009
bute lHoyo paid tri ist George De . Voiceover art n LaFontaine Do r, nto me friend and
15 AFTRA Magazine
The late voiceover artist, Don LaFontaine, who passed away in September 2008, was honored with the AMEE Tribute Award in Voiceover Artistry. Known as the “King of Voiceovers,” the tribute award was presented by another legendary “I’ve been broadcasting Clipper games voiceover artist, George for 30 years DelHoyo, to LaFontaine’s widow, and I think De Dodgers announcer Vin Scully with his AMEE Award. Scully is celebrating his 60th year calling singer Nita Whitaker-LaFontaine. that’s an awful sin si n play-by-play for the team. long time until DelHoyo called LaFontaine I look at Vin De el most who is about “the “th “t he m h mo o articulate guy I’ve ever and to begin his met” me m t” a an n recalled how he was legendary in the industry that 60th year,” sso leg eg was Lawler said. he h ew a just known as “Don,” or sometimes “The Don.” “Think about ssome me 60 years. DelHoyo recalled a day (early When he D De lH his career as a voiceover began in 1950, in h artist) he spent with LaFontaine.. Harry Truman art ar a t Ever the consummate was president. Ev professional, LaFontaine There have been n prr p was 12 presidents w able to record several promos while working on who have served d p a crossword puzzle at the our country while e same Vin has been same e time. tim ime. e e. serving the Dodgers and the millions “I said wow,” DelHoyo recalled. “If you and millions of fans he has turned on to ever get a chance to watch someone major league baseball and the Dodgers. work all day who’s the very best in It’s an extraordinary experience and his the world at something—it could be longevity is unbelievable. anything, a plumber, an electrician, a doctor, a skateboarder—do it. It’s truly “If we weren’t there (at the game), the best thing in the world. we feel we were there because Vin described it for us. “Well, I didn’t know the Thank you, sir,” Lawler awle aw lerr le “W best plumber or doctor but added. b I knew the best voiceover k guy,” he added. “When you “Hi everybody and d gu g heard a pleasant good hea he h a Don’s work, you heard evening to you,” joyy because he loved what he jjo Scully said as he did di d d and put it there. He didn’t took the podium. just jju st sound good, his reads felt good. good go od They had a point of view. They “AFTRA is truly T Th ey had intelligence. They had humor. the greatest humo hu mo Frank Welker may have said union on Earth,” sa aid iitt best when he said, ‘Don LaFontaine made music he added in LaF La F Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler thanked of nonsense.’” accepting the out ou t his friend, Vin Scully, for weaving his Dodgers play-by-play into stories. award. “I’m Flanked by their so proud to be an Fla Fl a daughters Skye and AFTRA member a and nd d dau da u Elyse, Whitaker-LaFontaine told the this honor is very dear to me. Thank you audience she was “humbled and grateful so much to the AFTRA Foundation for and thrilled for my boy,” in accepting the this award and for all the support you award—the first to go a voiceover artist. provide to AFTRA members around the country.” the Clippers,” Ralph Lawler, who took to the podium and welcomed his “fellow cardholders.”