This year the Sweden has named three winners for its Polar Music Prize – five time Grammy Award winner Angelique Kidjo, founder of Island Records Chris Blackwell, and music composer Arvo Pärt from Estonia.
Managing director Marie Ledin spoke on the winners saying, “all made such a global impact with their music.”
Blackwell formed Island Records in Jamaica. His list of signed artists include Bob Marley, Cat Stevens, Roxy Music, Tom Waits, Grace Jones, and Marianne Faithful.
A native of West Africa, Angelique Kidjo has mixed that traditions of her homeland with the western music sounds of Jazz, R&B, and Funk.
Now 87 Arvo Pärt invented the composition style tintinnabula in 1976. Marie Ledin called Pärt, “one of the most incredible composers the world has ever seen, and his beautiful music has touched audiences around the globe.” She added that he, “has deeply affected the course of music over several decades. His works have reached a vast number of listeners, not only via concerts and recordings but also through films and theatrical productions.”
The Swedish Polar Music Prize is awarded each year “in recognition of exceptional music achievements.” Along with the award, the Prize includes an award of 600,000 kronor ($57,700 in the U.S.).
The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 23 in Stockholm.
The Prize was created in 1989 by Stig Anderson who created the record label Polar Music. Previous winners of the Polar Music Prized include Bjork, Sir Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Chuck Berry, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Sir Elton John, Iggy Pop, Ravi Shankar, and Renee’ Fleming.
Feature photo credit: Polar Music Prize Logotype.jpg