The Grulke Prize
The Grulke Prize®, awarded in three categories, was developed in honor of our friend and colleague Creative Director Brent Grulke, who passed away on August 13, 2012.
John Fogerty - Photo by Diego Donamaria
About The Grulke Prize
Brent Grulke had a lengthy career in many areas of the music industry, working as music editor at theAustin Chronicle, sound engineer and tour manager for many Austin bands, and production and sound engineer for clubs in San Francisco. He later moved to Los Angeles to become the manager at Spindletop Records, which eventually led him back to Austin where he became the longtime Creative Director of theSXSW Music Festival.
Brent's love of music and the spirit of the festival is reflected in thethree prize categories: Developing U.S. Act, Developing Non-U.S. Act, and Career Act.
The Developing Act Prize is for artists who are breaking new ground with their creativity and show the most promise in achieving their career goals. The Career Act Prize is for an established artist who appeared at SXSW to reinvent themselves or launch an important new project. Explorepast awards and this year's recipients below.
2025 Grulke Prize Winner
John Fogerty
Career Act
As the singer / songwriter / leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), Fogerty forged a distinctive, groundbreaking sound all his own, equal parts blues, country, pop, rockabilly, R&B, swamp boogie, and Southern fried rock ‘n’ roll, all united by his uniquely evocative lyrical perspective. Fogerty is a Grammy winner and has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Among Fogerty’s many hit songs, which have sold over 100 million records, both as a solo artist and as frontman of CCR, highlights include “Proud Mary,” “Centerfield,” “Fortunate Son,” “Born on the Bayou,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” among many others.
John Fogerty - Photo by Diego Donamaria
See You at SXSW 2025
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