2002
Loren Bommelyn,
Tolowa Tradition Bearer
Crescent City, CA
2001
Seiichi Tanaka,
Taiko Drummer and Dojo Founder
San Francisco
2000
Chris Strachwitz
Record Producer & Label Founder
El Cerrito
Felipe Garcia Villamil
Afro-Cuban Drummer/Santero
Los Angeles
1999
Ulysses Goode
Western Mono Basket Maker
North Fork
Zakir Hussain
North Indian Master Tabla Drummer
San Anselmo
1997
Charles Brown
West Coast Blues Pianist & Composer
Berkeley
Ali Akbar Khan
North Indian Sarod Player & Raga Composer
San Anselmo
Hua Wenyi
Chinese Kunqu Opera Singer
Arcadia
1995
Danongan Sibay Kalanduyan
Filipino American Kulintang Musician
San Francisco
1994
Sosei Shizuye Matsumoto
Japanese Tea Ceremony Master
Los Angeles
Lily Vorperian
Armenian (Marash-style) embroidery
Glendale
1992
Francisco Aguabella
Afro-Cuban Drummer
Manhattan Beach
John Naka
Bonsai Sculptor
Los Angeles
1991
George Blake
Native American Craftsman (Hupa-Yurok)
Hoopa
Eduardo "Lalo" Guerrero
Mexican American Singer/Guitarist/Composer
Cathedral City
Khamvong Insixiengmai
Lao Singer
Fresno
Gussie Wells
African American Quilter
Oakland
Arbie Williams
African American Quilter
Oakland
1990
Natividad "Nati" Cano
Mexican Mariachi Musician
Monterey Park
1989
Jose Gutierrez
Mexican Jarocho Musician/Singer
Norwalk
Richard Avedis Hagopian
Armenian Oud Player
Visalia
1988
No California winners
1987
Kansuma Fujima
Japanese American Dancer
Los Angeles
1986
Luis Ortega
Hispanic American Rawhide Worker
Paradise, CA
1983
John Lee Hooker
Blues Guitarist/Singer
San Carlos
1982
Brownie McGhee
Blues Guitarist
Oakland
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