Before retiring in 2015, William Deyesso served as Wynn Management and Development Co.’s executive vice president, where he was responsible for the company’s financial planning. A fan of classic rock music, one of William Deyesso’s favorite bands is the iconic 1970s rock group, the Eagles.
In his last Kennedy Center Honors ceremony as president, Barack Obama honored multiple influential entertainers, including the surviving members of the Eagles. Held in December 2016, the Eagles were invited to the 2015 ceremony but had to decline the invitation over health concerns for Glenn Frey, the band’s guitarist.
With Frey passing away in 2016, the guitarist’s widow attended the ceremony in his place. The Eagles’ singer, Don Henley, dedicated the 2016 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony to the late guitarist.
To honor the band and their contribution to music, a wide ensemble of musicians spanning multiple generations and genres took to the stage to perform Eagles classics. The segment was led by iconic Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, who joked that his brother-in-law, Joe Walsh, made him do it. Notable performances included a Kings of Leon rendition of “Take it Easy” and Vince Gill’s “Peaceful Easy Feeling.”
The evening closed with the entire ensemble of musicians performing an all-star version of the Eagles hit, “Life in the Fast Lane.” President Obama praised the Eagles personally, saying their legacy is measured by the number of lives the band has touched.
