Jools Holland is honoured with the 20th Music Industry Trusts’ Award
aaamusic | On 28, Jun 2011
Jools Holland, piano player, big band leader, TV presenter, former punk pop-star, deputy Lieutenant of Kent, OBE and undoubted national treasure, is to be honoured with the 20th Music Industry Trusts’ Award. This prestigious Award is made to Jools Holland in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music and music broadcasting, spanning over three decades. The Award will be presented to Jools Holland on 7 November at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, last year’s recipient was Sir Tom Jones. Over 1000 guests attend this celebrated charity event in aid of Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust.
David Munns, Chairman of the Award committee said:
“We are delighted that Jools Holland is this year’s Award recipient, we wanted someone special for our 20th Anniversary and he certainly is that: there is no one in the UK more associated with popularising music than Jools, whether it’s leading his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra on nationwide tours, presenting his BBC Radio 2 show or presenting ‘Later With Jools Holland’ the UK’s longest-running music TV show, and before that ‘The Tube.’ He is also a tireless supporter of the National Autistic Society, the Prince’s Trust and The Drake Music Project.”
This Award in November will be the start of several milestones for the indefatigable Jools Holland, as 2012 will see him marking 30 years as a TV presenter of two of the UK’s best loved music shows, first The Tube in the 80’s and 20 years of ‘Later with Jools Holland’, 25 years since forming his big band, and he will also celebrate 15 years with Warner Music, having released 16 albums and sold many millions. Once asked how he would like to be remembered, Jools replied:
“As a person who loved playing music and brought joy to people.”
Jools Holland has been steeped in music, as long as he can remember, at the age of 8 he could play the piano and in his early teens was playing in the pubs of his native South East London. At 15, Jools was introduced to Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford and together they formed Squeeze, going on to enjoy meteoric success both in the UK and in the States. In 1987 Jools formed The Jools Holland Big Band which evolved into the current 19 piece Rhythm and Blues Orchestra – they regularly perform over 100 gigs a year. He is unique in excelling both as a musician and as a TV and radio broadcaster: this parallel broadcasting career began in the early 80’s when he co-presented The Tube with Paula Yates. Since that date Jools, via his broadcasts, has presented the whole spectrum of music talent with his characteristic aplomb – whether it’s the established artist, the world music musician or the new band being given its first break.
Jools Holland: “How wonderful to be honoured….my lifelong passion is music and I’ve been so lucky to be able to indulge this for more years than I care to think about. To have been given the opportunity to lead my magnificent big band and to have played with many of the all-time greats..is indeed lucky..and to discover and enjoy the many talents via ‘Later’..well, it continues to be a privilege. Thank you MITS and well done on celebrating your 20th”.
The Music Industry Trusts’ Award, now in its 20th year, has raised £4 million for Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust. It has earned its respected place in the entertainment industry due to the great names that have held this honour: Sir George Martin, Ahmet Ertegun, Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin, John Barry, Michael Parkinson, Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber, Sir Tom Jones and Kylie Minogue. The Award was founded to recognise outstanding achievement in the UK music industry as well as benefiting Nordoff Robbins and the BRIT Trust.
The Award is unique because it recognises the contribution that an individual has made to the industry across a range of activities: record producer, film music composer, broadcaster, legendary artist, record executive, songwriter and concert impresario. The Award evening has become renowned for its magic moments, with unique live performances that have a special resonance for the recipient.
Tickets are available from: mitsadmin@nrfr.co.uk, tel: 020 7428 9908
