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Grammy winner — Tommy album package art
Grammy-winning album-package / album art for the London Symphony Orchestra version of The Who’s Tommy — Byrd’s Acid Queen illustration was part of the Best Album Package win; he received a Grammy certificate for his participation.
David Edward Byrd is a Grammy winner for album-package art on The Who’s Tommy: his Acid Queen portrait of Merry Clayton was part of the 1972 London Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Choir orchestral package that took Best Album Package.
Poster Child records that Craig Braun of Wilkes & Braun hired Byrd for the Acid Queen; the package won a Grammy for Best Album Package, and Byrd received a Grammy certificate for his participation — a certificate he later rediscovered and cherished.
Named art-director winners were Tom Wilkes and Craig Braun (Wilkes & Braun); fellow package illustrators included Richard Amsel and other major commercial artists of the era.
Secondary sources often date the honor to 1973; the Recording Academy lists Best Album Package under the 16th Annual Grammy Awards (1974 ceremony).
Chapter placement: Recognition (1973). This internal article expands the timeline card so “Read full article” never dead-ends on a teaser.
Context for collectors and researchers: the estate keeps life facts, career milestones, and stewardship notes on-site. Related Archive and Shop links point to editions and masters when they exist; they do not replace this biography.
Sources used for this article: Poster Child (p. 96) (Who chapter); Wikipedia: Accolades and awards; Grammy Best Album Package; New York Times.
For magazine and trade obituaries covering the full career arc and February 3, 2025 Albuquerque death, open the imported Press articles (Playbill, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, Ultimate Classic Rock, Amsel tribute, NYT record).