Quincy Jones and Sonny Rollins were presented the National Medal of Arts, March 2, at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House.Here are the statements read for Jones and Rollins:
Quincy Jones for his extraordinary contributions to American music as a musician, composer, record producer, and arranger. As a master inventor of musical hybrids, he has mixed pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African, and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performances, movies and television.
Sonny Rollins for his contributions to American jazz music. Widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians of the post-bebop era, Mr. Rollins' melodic sensibilities, playing style, and solos have delighted audiences and influenced generations of musicians for over 50 years.
Jones and Rollins received the award with six other honorees, (Ten were awarded, but two were not able to attend the ceremony) the other honorees include; Robert Brustein/New York, NY (Theatrical Critic, Producer, Playwright, and Educator), Van Cliburn/Shreveport, LA (Pianist and Music Educator), Mark di Suvero/Shanghai, China (Sculptor), Donald Hall/New Haven, CT (Poet), *Harper Lee/Monroeville, AL (Author), *Meryl Streep/Summit, NY (Actress), and James Taylor/Boston, MA (Singer and Songwriter)
*unable to attend
Sonny Rollins will make his first Nashville appearance in nearly two decades, Friday, October 14, 2011 at Schemerhorn Symphony Center.
To watch the video click HERE, to read the transcript, hear or download the 2010 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Ceremony click HERE.
