 at the ceremony in Stockholm on August 28, reports BBC News){kind=link}
Paul Simon has scooped this year's Polar Music Prize. The award is given yearly to both a pop and classical artist. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has won the classical portion of the prize. Both artists will be given their prizes of one million kronor (£91,000) at the ceremony in Stockholm on August 28, report...
Paul Simon has scooped this year’s Polar Music Prize.
The award is given yearly to both a pop and classical artist. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has won the classical portion of the prize. Both artists will be given their prizes of one million kronor (£91,000) at the ceremony in Stockholm on August 28, reports BBC News.
Patti Smith and Kronos Quartet won the prize last year, and other previous Polar Prize winners include Elton John, Paul McCartney, Bjork and Bob Dylan. The award was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson, former manager of ABBA.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music said the Graceland artist won this year because of his “consummate skill, innovative arrangements and provocative lyrics. Nobody else is more deserving of the epithet of ‘world-class songwriter'”.
They added: “For five decades, Paul Simon has built bridges not only over troubled waters but over entire oceans by (re)joining the world’s continents with his music. Paul Simon has compiled a library of songs which will remain open to future generations.”
Paul Simon will play Graceland in its entirety at this year’s Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park on July 15.