News

Tony Bennett To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

• 24th Jun 2010

Nordoff Robbins are excited to announce that legendary singer Tony Bennett will receive the Sony Ericsson Lifetime Achievement Award to coincide with his 60th anniversary as a recording artist at this year’s annual star-studded O2 Silver Clef Awards at The Hilton, Park Lane. This year’s 35th awards luncheon, held to raise money for Nordoff Robbins, will be hosted by Sharon Osbourne. It will take place on Friday 2nd July and will be attended by guests including some of the music industry’s highest fliers, most prolific characters, artists, celebrities and supporters of Nordoff Robbins.

April saw the release of Tony’s new album, The Ultimate American Songbook on Sony Music, a project that took him over a decade to compile. The 21-track album is a personal collection of many of his all-time favourites from some of America's greatest songwriters, composers, Broadway musicals and film soundtracks. The album is a showcase for some the greatest writers/composers of all time and is a musical atlas of many of his songs and releases spanning from the 1930s – 1990s. He will also be embarking on a string of UK concerts (his first in 3 years) in late June/ early July 2010 to celebrate his anniversary, kicking off with two shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall and a special appearance at the iTunes Festival.

Tony Bennett said earlier today:
“‘It’s fantastic to be awarded the Sony Ericsson Lifetime Achievement Award in their 35th anniversary year following in the footsteps of so many great artists as I am a great believer that music can be a powerful healing force and I applaud all the fantastic work that Nordoff Robbins has implemented over the past 50 years. I feel I’ve joined a very special club. It is with great joy that I look forward to being back in the UK for the Silver Clef Awards and for my concert tour in what is my 60th Anniversary year as a recording artist.”

Described by Frank Sinatra as “the best singer in the business”, 83 year old Tony Bennett is the world’s only major living recording artist to have released charting albums in every decade for the past 60 years, with The Ultimate American Songbook being the first album release of the 7th decade. He has been honoured by the United Nations with its Citizen of the World award, which aptly describes the scope of his accomplishments. He has performed to 10 US Presidents and numerous members of the Royal family and won multiple awards, including 15 Grammies and 2 Emmys and has sold millions of records world-wide.

With an impressive roll call of previous Award winners and industry favourites, including Rod Stewart and Sir Cliff Richard, this year’s event will be no exception and will feature winners of the highest talents and calibre. Now in its impressive 35th year, the O2 Silver Clef Awards Lunch is a highlight in the music social calendar… The event, which has so far raised over £7.5million for Nordoff Robbins, also features an auction of one-off music memorabilia items and other money-can’t-buy items.